Temple Terrace arts enthusiasts will soon have a place of their own. 

The city’s estimated $4 million Arts and Education Center is about 18 months away from completion, officials say. Once open, the facility in the downtown redevelopment area will serve as a home base for various arts performances and classes within the city.

“I would think last quarter of 2013 we should be ready to open,” said John Toppe, president of Toppe Consultants, the city’s representative and planning consultant for the design coordination and interior planning of the arts center.

Toppe said his firm has been working with Lyman Davidson Dooley, the architecture firm that is designing the downtown redevelopment area with the Vlass group, the developer of the project who is building the arts center.

Toppe said the architects have agreed on the floor plan, and Lyman Davidson Dooley is now working on the exterior design. Toppe has also been coordinating with theater consultants it hired to collaborate on details of the seating layouts and theater equipment.

He said the firm is working with the community to create staffing models for a nonprofit foundation that would support the arts center, including job descriptions for volunteer foundation board members and a draft of by-laws for them to use. It’s also working with the city to create job descriptions for full- and part-time arts center employees.

The city is paying Toppe $75,075 for its services.

“We intend it to be a very active and lively space for community use, for arts education and everything possible to serve your adults, children and seniors,” Toppe said.