Renovation begins this September at Thunder Bay Theatre.
Learn all about the project and future of the theater below!
After over three years of being closed due to water and smoke damage following a fire at the John A. Lau Saloon, repairs and renovations to the Thunder Bay Theatre building will commence on September 5th. The majority of the funding for the $1.4 million project was secured through a variety of state and local grants including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, State Historic Preservation Office, First Federal Legacy Foundation, and the Besser Foundation.
While the theater received insurance funds for the damage, the funds were not adequate to address all of the building needs.
President Anne Gentry shared, “It has been a long journey to get to this point requiring a lot of patience and determination to keep moving forward. The theater board has been unwavering in its plans to reopen and continue our mission of providing live theatre and educational opportunities for the Alpena community.”
Meridian Contracting Services and Meridian Restoration will be serving as general contractor on the project. Gentry added, “Todd Britton has been an invaluable partner throughout the preparation for the project, he’s provided great insight and recommendations on the
structural repairs.”
The anticipated timeline for completion of the building repairs is roughly a year, with a potential reopening in the Fall of 2024. The first priority for the building is to repair the brick facade, replace the windows, and replace the roof which has been in desperate need of repair for over five years.
Additional funding will be required to update the stage, lighting grid, and the auditorium. A fundraising campaign is expected to launch this Fall but donations towards the project are appreciated at any time.
While the theater received insurance funds for the damage, the funds were not adequate to address all of the building needs.
President Anne Gentry shared, “It has been a long journey to get to this point requiring a lot of patience and determination to keep moving forward. The theater board has been unwavering in its plans to reopen and continue our mission of providing live theatre and educational opportunities for the Alpena community.”
Meridian Contracting Services and Meridian Restoration will be serving as general contractor on the project. Gentry added, “Todd Britton has been an invaluable partner throughout the preparation for the project, he’s provided great insight and recommendations on the
structural repairs.”
The anticipated timeline for completion of the building repairs is roughly a year, with a potential reopening in the Fall of 2024. The first priority for the building is to repair the brick facade, replace the windows, and replace the roof which has been in desperate need of repair for over five years.
Additional funding will be required to update the stage, lighting grid, and the auditorium. A fundraising campaign is expected to launch this Fall but donations towards the project are appreciated at any time.
Renovation Details
|
|
The organization is planning a full renovation of our over hundred-year-old building to repair damage from the 2020 fire and complete much other-needed updates throughout the building. Renovation is expected to total $1,440,530.
Activities include:
Activities include:
- Restoring our historic brick facades: tuck-pointing brick and repairing mortar
- Replacing all second-story windows and first-story doors
- Replacing all roofs on the building
- Creating new glass storefronts
- Renovating all second-story apartments, including repairing plaster, refinishing floors, building new kitchens and bathrooms
- Updating electrical and plumbing throughout the building, including adding AC units to the apartments
- Rebuilding the lobby and creating a new bar area with plumbing
- Creating a new office in the back of the auditorium
- Installing a new fires suppression system
- Remediating lead & asbestos throughout the building
Committed Funding
$725,923
|
$80,000
|
$60,000
|
$100,000
|
|
Thank you to the funders & partners who are making this renovation possible
|
|
|
|
|
|
