HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-03-02, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017.
Hall renovations on track for Festival opener
Setting the stage
Ongoing renovations at Memorial Hall, home of the Blyth Festival, are on track, but there is
still plenty of work to be done. North Huron opened the building up for a media tour last week
to highlight all of the renovations and improvements being made at the historic site. From this
view, you can see the Hall's main theatre space from the stage, looking out to where the new
seats will be located. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued from page 27
but the kitchen has been moved to
the northwest corner of the space. A
janitor's hall has also been installed The lower hall was previously
on the south side of the hall, which is concrete over dirt, which led to
accessible from the lower hall. cooler temperatures. Newson
explained that in -floor heating had
been installed in the space to battle
the cold.
The space will still fit 150 people
as its footprint hasn't changed
significantly, Newson said, however
it will be a more attractive venue for
events.
The kitchen will include brand
new equipment and be functional for
every level of culinary practices. A
pantry, including an extra freezer
and chiller and storage for food, has
also been added. Outdoor storage
has also been included for grounds
maintenance equipment and a staff
bathroom will be installed before the
project is completed to allow staff
working in the kitchen or bar an
alternative to using the public
washrooms.
The northern staircase is being
redesigned and is accessible both
from outside and from the lower
hall, while the front stairs of the
structure, at the eastern entrance, are
also being renovated.
The columns in the lower hall
were often a problem for people
hosting events as, in years past, they
had been boxed in for fire purposes.
The new column covers will be
much smaller and have less of a
impact on the usability of the space,
Newson said.
A special heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning (HVAC) system has
been selected for the site. The unit is
quiet, Newson said, and won't
interrupt performances in the upper
hall.
Seats are not yet installed in the
upper hall, but the floor, which was
removed earlier in the renovation,
has been replaced.
Newson explained the space has a
new sound system, a giant projector
screen suspended above the stage
and projectors. The stage lighting
system has also been redesigned and
installed with new supports. A new
feature wall has been installed at the
back of the upper hall that will block
light from the eastern door and
provide a place for sound engineers
to set up during concerts.
Support rooms such as the green
room and dressing rooms will all be
refurbished.
The sound and lighting booth, part
of the balcony of the upper hall, will
retain the same footprint but include
new technology to allow for modern
applications in the theatre such as
projectors.
Controls for the lights in the
structure will be located throughout
the building, Newson said. They will
be easily accessible and usable by all
renters without hiring any special
technicians.
The upper hall will have 379 total
seats, now with more leg room and
more accessible seating when the
renovation is completed, Newson
said. Prior to the beginning of the
renovation, there were 444 seats in
the structure.
The plaques featuring World War I
and World War II veterans will have
two separate spaces in the hall. For
Blyth Festival season usage or when
the space the plaques normally have
at the west end of the hall is needed,
the plaques can be moved to the east
end of the upper hall. The new sites
will include lights to highlight the
plaques.
The renovations are set to be
completed in May, when the Blyth
Festival will begin to prepare for the
2017 theatre season.
M20
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