Balancing Act Missouri Theatre renovation team mixes historic preservation with state-of-the-art upgrades

For an architect, a project such as the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts restoration—integrating modern advances into a 90-year-old building—presents multiple challenges.

The renovation work, now under way and scheduled for completion in June 2008, entails balancing the building’s historical character with contemporary building code requirements and safety upgrades as well as high-tech electronics systems.

One formidable design problem involves the sprinkler system, said architect Michael Carafeno, project manager of the restoration team that includes architecture firm Architects Alliance of Jefferson City and contractor Huebert Builders Inc. of Columbia. For safety, sprinkler heads need to be installed in the auditorium ceiling, potentially detracting from the ceiling’s beauty. To avoid creating an eyesore, Carafeno said, the heads will be recessed, and, when activated, they’ll pop out and disperse water.

Another challenge—and priority—is compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Planned changes include the installation of an elevator and the addition of a handicapped-accessible dressing room off a covered corridor at street level. Other ADA details will be fleshed out after demolition.

Hidden surprises
For the design team, the restoration process is akin to a treasure hunt. Guided by photographs, the team discovered that a solid wall had been built to enclose the original hand railing in the grand foyer. During restoration, the wall will be removed to expose the stairway’s wooden spindles.

Based on another old photo, Carafeno said, the team decided to make a small exploratory opening in the mezzanine wall. Behind it, they found a cavity with windows, which will be removed, repaired, restored and returned to their position—a process that will make the windows thermally sound while retaining the historic flavor of the building.

Because workers come across so many unexpected findings, Carafeno said he has to be on site during demolition and construction.

“We might unearth something we’re not expecting and need to adjust accordingly. In demolishing, you never know what’s behind something,” he said.

Photographic documentation will be employed throughout the renovation process.

Prioritizing
In planning the renovation, Architects Alliance prepared 140 pages of drawings, complete with 25 alternatives based on input from consultants, the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts (MTCA) board of directors and the architects committee.

Cortney Wright, MTCA board president and member of the committee, said planners wanted to make sure the building was aesthetically pleasing and true to its 1928 heyday—as well as economical to maintain. Because funds are limited, Carafeno said, planners had to sort out needs from wants.

“The roof is starting to show signs of failing,” Carafeno said. “The roof was probably the biggest cost we discovered not in our original scope.” He said the auditorium roof repair work was estimated to cost approximately $50,000, including the installation of several new scuppers to help minimize the water and ice buildup.

Moisture damage and other cosmetic damage are evident in the cracked plaster elsewhere, but overall, Carafeno said, the old building is structurally sound. Also, because of its concrete and brick masonry, it has a better fire rating than a wooden building would, he said.

Acoustics: ?Something old, something new
In the 1950s, sound tiles were installed in the back of the Missouri Theatre auditorium. Carafeno said the sound technician evaluated the sound and concluded that “removing the tiles will give a clearer sound that wraps around the theater.”

Carafeno said the new audio-visual system will employ the most advanced technology in acoustics, theatrical lighting and the equipment, which is designed to be integrated into future technology. Board president Wright said the state-of-the-art system is expected to attract more performers.

“Even the temperature control for the building is going to be pretty elaborate,” Carafeno said.

Old materials find new life

Many features of the theater—such as basic lighting, chandeliers and architectural details—will be left in place or used in different parts of the building.

“We’re trying to take all the elements that were there and bring them back, such as a beveled mirror over the door,” Carafeno said.

Some materials removed from the building’s exterior will be re-used inside. The granite that is currently on the face of the columns, for example, will be removed, cut and installed in the renovated dressing rooms, Carafeno said.

The cast-stone features—such as finial urns, cartouches, festoons and scrolls—will be repaired or reproduced, while the brick on the columns will be replaced with a new cast-stone masonry unit.

The 1928 terrazzo floor in the foyer will be revived. A second entrance used during segregation, with its own ticket booth and stairwell, will be restored and used as an emergency exit. Old pieces from the original stage will be used as flooring in the theater’s museum, where artifacts will be displayed.

True colors
“The interior ornamentation and finishes of the auditorium are the most important historic features,” said historical preservation consultant Debbie Sheals. “It is unusual to see a building with so many modern exterior alterations listed in the National Register, but this one is listed primarily because of the significance of the interior.”

That ornamentation will be restored to its original beauty with hours of work. Carafeno said the designs had been painted over in a single color. They will be cleaned and painted by hand, using several colors to bring out the details. Tom Sater of Sater Conservation is sampling paint options, and Carafeno said color selection will continue with construction.

Nine months to go
If all goes according to schedule, the Missouri Symphony Orchestra will return to a restored auditorium next summer, and the Columbia Art League will have a gallery and sales area near the theater entrance. Carafeno said the team is committed to finishing the project in nine months.

“It will be a challenge but an exciting nine months,” said Susan Hart, vice president of Huebert Builders Inc. Hart said it’s rare to come across a project so focused on historical accuracy. “Now we have the opportunity, team and client to restore [the theater] to its original grandeur.”

Carafeno, who moved to Missouri from Connecticut, said he has enjoyed the high level of community involvement with the theater. “Visually, it represents a lot in this city to me.”

He said he’s hopeful to see additional involvement from the community—especially in the hunt for historical pieces. Rumor has it that the two finial urns once atop the marquee are stored in someone’s basement.