Renovations for the Frank Thompson Building should be completed by Dec. of this year, but Amy Boiselle, director of arts development, said all components will probably not be moved in until Spring of 2008.
The $16.1 million project has been progressing for the past 3 years, Boiselle said, and construction crews began their work on the theatre in Oct. 2007.
According to Boiselle, poor handicap entrances were a main reason for renovating, as they did not comply with the American Disabilities Act.
“There were lots of things that weren’t compliant,” she said.
Alex Miller, associate vice chancellor and director of the University Scholars Program, said the current access’ conditions were “a real disaster” and “an embarrassment,” forcing handicapped patrons to enter through an inconvenient back entrance.
An elevator will be installed to allow everyone to get to the second floor, Boiselle said, along with an ADA-approved ramp.
“The building really wasn’t working well,” she said. “It wasn’t a very user-friendly space.”
Repairs also include improving bathrooms, adding a sprinkler system and air conditioning, she said. According to Boiselle, the building was not fit to be a theatre because it was made to be a gymnasium, and served as one from its construction in 1925 until 1964.
The theatre contains two stages, but Boiselle said acoustics were ill-fitted for performances, and if performers were working on one stage, it would overpower anyone who tried to practice on the other.
With improved acoustics from completely separated theatres, “we can do small concerts and recitals where that wasn’t possible before,” she said.
Boiselle wants to preserve the history of the building, with its origins as a gymnasium, and reputation as a communal part of campus, she said.
While the theatre is closed, some play practices and theatre and crafts classes are being held at Brickhaven buildings near the JC Raulston Arboretum, which Boiselle said can be inconvenient for some, but Wolfline buses are available to get there.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than closing down the programs,” she said.
Steven Deutsch, past participant in “A Few Good Men” and actor in “Godspell,” agreed that the Thompson building would be better.
“Brickhaven’s not the same,” Deutsch, a graduate student in math, said. “It makes rehearsal a little more difficult.”
But Boiselle said the renovation is worth displacing some productions and classes, and the project has raised almost all of its necessary funds.
“We’re probably very close, [we’ve got] less than $100,000 to raise,” she said.
And while they have received many private donations, Miller said student fees have contributed to 80 percent of the costs.
These costs will bring more hi-tech theatre equipment for student use that Miller said was lacking in the facility before, and Boiselle said it could not be done without student contribution.
“Students have been the ones that we owe the biggest bit of gratitude for,” she said.
