Casey Kuhn/KJZZ

The former Space Challenger Center of Arizona building was designed by schoolchildren specifically for the program.

The former Challenger Space Center in Peoria will finally get a new purpose with its new owners, the Peoria Unified School District.

When Peoria Schools first got the building in 2017, it was a shock when school officials found it in a bad state. The initial cost for retrofitting the building for STEM programs was estimated to be more than a million dollars.

After more research and community input, the district governing board decided unanimously to convert the building into an arts facility.

The final cost is still to be decided, but early numbers show it could be about $362,000 to do the parking lot, fire alarm and technology system. According to the governing board, past projections would have cost $600,000 to renovate the bathrooms.

The arts facility will have more classroom space for high school students near Sunrise Mountain High School in AP art classes.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to include additional information on the cost of the building renovations.