Macon City Auditorium goes dark for months as renovation begins

MACON, Ga. — For the initial time since the late 70s, the Town Auditorium is becoming renovated.

While the county at first prepared to devote $10 million of 2018 SPLOST proceeds, the last estimate is not but regarded thanks to the increase in the price tag of building supplies and design modifications to rein in expenses. The 1st design was far more than 2.5 times the prepared price range.

Sheridan Development is overseeing the project in partnership with the Smallwood structure company out of Atlanta.

The auditorium’s calendar is clear right until early September to let development in June, July and August.

“We have a crushed routine. We’re likely to be doing the job 24/7,” explained Tom Rogers, Sheridan’s senior job supervisor.

They halted auditorium bookings so function can be completed on the main flooring and basement concessions foyer in the to start with of two phases of building with the 2nd half finishing next yr, hopefully in time to rejoice Macon’s bicentennial.

This 7 days, crews covered the auditorium floor and commenced erecting a subject of scaffolding that will hold a raised platform at the best of the proscenium so employees can transform the ceiling above the balcony.

“We are eradicating the ceiling which is there and just heading back again to what it was originally… black metal,” mentioned Clay Murphey, the SPLOST coordinator for Macon-Bibb County.

In 1977, the Sheridan workforce embarked on a 20-month, $2.2 million dollar undertaking to enable stability the acoustical difficulties designed by the “largest copper dome in the planet.”

Ribs of sheetrock and panels of acoustical carpet had been additional together with spaceship-like tiles near the stage.

However, that repair from about 45 many years ago designed one more dilemma – surplus moisture.

“The developing is not in a position to breathe the way it is,” Murphey stated. “You can see all the mildew.”

Most patrons of the auditorium take a look at all through dimly lit functions, but the problems is incredibly evident when all the lights are on.

In the final couple of many years, much more than a million dollars was used to water-proof and renovate the basement and restore the roof, which had 51 bullet holes in the famed copper dome.

In the $6.9 million Section 1 of the challenge, a structural steel community will be erected from the ceiling for a new catwalk and lighting procedure.

Crews are hermetically sealing the historic mural above the phase to shield it from dust and injury.

There will be new paint, flooring, carpet, and wallpaper with new drapes and seat handles expected following year.

“We’re pretty a great deal touching all the things the general public sees,” Murphey mentioned of the present renovation. “The popular space the individuals will see will be radically distinctive.”

Downstairs, crews will demolish the present concessions stand and restrooms and produce new kinds in the course of this 1st phase.

Smallwood at first built a glass atrium and major restructuring of the foyer, but the resources ended up way too pricey for the funds, and not anyone embraced the more fashionable thought on the century-aged constructing.

In Period 2 subsequent yr, crews are expected to establish octagon-shaped additions on every single conclusion of the 1st Road facet to home very first ground bogs and a new ticket area.

The more 12 months presents contractors time to find a match for the limestone used to build the auditorium to use on the new additions.

“I assume we’re going to end up going with one thing that appears to be like limestone,” Murphey explained. “I’d be stunned if we can quarry limestone at a price tag that is fair.”

Rogers said he’s on the lookout ahead to transforming the auditorium.

“It’s an appealing venture simply because the auditorium is such a historic creating and it signifies so much to so many individuals who have manufactured recollections there,” Rogers stated.

Last fall, the worldwide location improvement company Oak View Team, or OVG, acquired Spectra Venue Management, the supervisor of the auditorium, coliseum, conference heart and Macon-Bibb’s new amphitheater planned at Macon Shopping mall.

Peyton Jeter, the marketing director for OVG’s neighborhood business, explained the function on the auditorium coincides with upgrading the Macon Coliseum.

A new online video scoreboard was mounted in the very last yr and the facility will have an upgraded hearth alarm security technique, which is estimated to price tag approximately $500,000.

Crews also are putting in a new $1.3 million ice flooring technique.

“That serves the Mayhem genuinely effectively, Disney on Ice and general public skating,” Jeter said whilst touring the auditorium Tuesday.

The auditorium renovation also will touch the oval-formed green area that has hosted performers by the a long time. Contemporary phase enhancements for loading in devices really should make it less complicated to ebook functions for the auditorium.

Through this a few-month downtime, Jeter said she will have sufficient time to get started marketing the county’s new amphitheater at the time bookings come in for performances anticipated to start off subsequent summer time.

OVG was the distinct option to regulate that new location, stated City Growth Authority govt director Alex Morrison at last month’s conference.

“When it arrived to needing aid as we’re building, preparing for and finally working a new leisure venue, the amphitheater, it was reasonable and a wonderful option to get the job done with them yet again for that facility,” Morrison informed the authority in advance of members recognized the administration agreement.

OVG’s Regional Vice President Trent Merritt explained the firm understands the Macon current market and the problems of running just after the world-wide pandemic shut down business.

The Centreplex operation now has numerous venues to book acts and make interactions with entertainers.

“You can carry artists in, performers who are up and coming, in more compact services and expand them into bigger facilities,” Merritt stated. “Now with the amphitheater, it just puts yet another crown jewel in the arsenal listed here.”

For Jeter, absolutely nothing beats the attraction of the old auditorium.

“I just feel she’s so rather,” she mentioned.

Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian addresses Macon-Bibb County authorities and can be achieved at fabian_lj@mercer.edu or 478-301-2976.

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