The plan is to end the renovation by the building’s centennial in 2024.
MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb County commissioners Tuesday authorised the up coming phase in the Macon Metropolis Auditorium renovation: testing for asbestos and other damaging substances.
The screening will expense the county about $64,000. It’s just a smaller portion of the $6 million cost tag for the 1st fifty percent of the renovation. It begun final week, and 13WMAZ obtained an within look at the progress.
The stage lights are nonetheless on, but the overall performance is on pause. The Macon Metropolis Auditorium is having ready for its up coming curtain phone. The significant corridor is stuffed with scaffolding supporting a system in the building’s dome.
“This is Macon’s grand aged lady,” mentioned Tom Rogers, who oversees the development. “Most of the people today that are here functioning on the developing grew up in Macon, and have been in the auditorium for shows, recitals, graduations, weddings, you title it.”
Rogers’ group is in a race in opposition to the clock to complete 50 percent the renovation by September. Which is when the auditorium demands to reopen for displays. All the perform commences in the auditorium’s famed dome.
“We are going to consider out the previous, mildewed, aged wanting interior dome ceiling. We’re likely to expose the metal framework. And we’re heading to insert insulation on the inside of of the roof,” Rogers mentioned.
They will also increase loos and concession locations in the basement. The auditorium’s general manager, David Aiello, claims it truly is all about preserving the almost century-previous developing and recruiting prime expertise to conduct.
“Individuals always want to be entertained, and particularly the even larger name, the additional people today are likely to arrive. And for us, we attract from a 75-mile radius,” Aiello spelled out.
Rogers hopes his team’s operate retains drawing in crowds for yet another century and past.
“We’ve acquired an dreadful ton to do. We have been doing the job all over the clock. We are heading to proceed working lengthy hrs to make absolutely sure it happens,” Rogers explained.
Section two of the renovation will begin future summer. The auditorium will near once more for three months so the team can end up. Rogers states they just acquired the strategies for stage two previous week, so there is no value for that just but.