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« on: October 25, 2014, 11:56:57 PM »
I need to make an important observation: This facility has no backstage area. ZERO. NOTHING. A major rear addition will be needed
I was inside this buidling today after "Make a Difference Day", and I took an unauthorized peak upstairs. I was interested in the floor plan of the main room, the stage, the backstage, and main seating area. When I was in college, I worked as a stage hand at a performing arts center. I helped with props and calibrating the lights, and I even worked the shows. I have some knowledge on these needs.
With this facility, there is nowhere to build props, store props and set up props, there is nowhere for a backstage changing rooms and restrooms specifically designated for the artists, there is nowhere for a control room for the theatre lighting system that is surely to be installed, there is nowhere for a sound system or setup area for any outside sound systems brought in by the artists, and the biggest problem is there is no loading dock connected to the backstage area. As I see it, this building is going to need a rear addition with at least a 1500 sf footprint (30 x 50) if this is ever going to be any kind of cultural arts center. That 1500 sf footprint means 1500 sf on the first floor AND 1500 sf on the second floor where it is really needed, total of 3,000 sf. And the logistics will have to include a driveway to Warren Street or Atlantic Street long enough for a big truck, leading to a loading dock that will be part of the addition. I guess the loading dock will have to be closer to one corner of the building, and the addition will be an irregular shape to include the loading dock. And then some kind of wide staircase leading upstairs to the main hall to move equipment. Or perhaps a work elevator. It won't be perfect or pretty, but it will be functional. I don't see the addition costing less than $600,000, and maybe much more. And there's a need for a few parking spots in the back, for the smaller trucks and vans associated with the performers, which will be unloading all sorts of stuff.
In addition, the bathrooms for visitors that are in the front of the second floor are woefully deficient and small, and since space is a premium, these will have to be moved to the lower level. The whole building is going to need sprinkler system, and probably major electrical work. And the rear addition will need to have TWO emergency exits, one in each corner, each leading to a separate staircase. There is no way that this facility is going to open without rear emergency exits, due to fire codes. So there is a 100% chance of some kind of construction work on the rear side of the building.
On the plus side, the tall roof/ceiling in the main room will allow for some upper level seating if the city desires to construct it, and there is plenty of space to make a movie-control room above the 2nd floor entrance hallway. There could be showings of movies for the community here. We don't have a movie theatre, but this use can be incorporated here.
The need for a rear addition is going to have to be considered now, so that the PARK can be planned correctly. Otherwise you'll be cutting into the park in the future to expand the building and parking for the "show" vehicles. So let's get this right, folks. A couple million is going to be spent here, for everything. Basically what you have is the shell of a building, as far as the Arts center floor is concerned, without the needed backstage area. Not sure what the city plans for the lower level.
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