Local media tours Chipola College Center for the Arts

Chipola College allowed local media to tour its still-in-construction Center for the Arts on Wednesday.

With three main areas: the main theater, black box theater and a dance studio, this $16 million 56,000 square foot facility is a landmark for Chipola.

“This is the biggest capital improvement project in the history of Chipola College,” said Chipola president Dr. Gene Prough said.

No landscaping has been done to the outside of the theater yet – pipes, red-orange soil and other construction materials currently occupy the center’s 350-plus parking spaces. The building itself has been painted. Each of the center’s towers is painted either cream, taupe or red.

Media members entered the same way theatre-goers would, through the front lobby. A wall of windows sheds light on the ticket booth and main stage entranceways. No flooring or ceiling work has been put in yet.

An elevator in the lobby and wide walkways make this facility not only comfortable and easy to walk through, but also ADA compliant.

“The beauty here is there’s communication between spaces,” said Robert Lorelli, the theatrical consultant of Robert Lorelli Associates, Inc., from Speonk, N.Y.

All 655 seats, covered in protective plastic for now, have been installed into the main theater, 487 in the orchestra and 168 in the balcony.

Standing on the main stage, the lights and catwalks were even more evident. Lights have been placed on the ceiling and the wall, giving performances more options to direct lighting anyway they see fit. Typically, lighting workers have to use ladders to access the wall lights, but in this new theater, catwalks give them easier access.

“It’s safe, efficient,” Lorelli said. “It’s really with the operator in mind.”

The theater’s walls look like the center, or bellows, of an accordion. The ridges are to improve the acoustics of the theatre. Other acoustic aids have not been installed yet.

The main stage is still under some construction. Gaps for the trapdoors expose the rooms underneath. The orchestra pit still needs its mechanisms installed. When finished, the pit will be able to sit in three different positions: stage level, audience level and significantly lower than the stage and audience.

“When you’re looking out here, you’re the performer” said Lorelli as he looked out to the ‘audience.’

A pulley system has been installed on the right side of the stage. In order to change scenery, lighting or drapery, the panel is attached to a pipe. A stage hand selects the corresponding rope, pulls it, and the piece of scenery flies upward from the stage into the space above the stage. About 50 different elements can be used at once, Lorelli said.

“You have the ability to perform any type of production here,” Lorelli said.

Support spaces line the back of the main theater. A loading dock allows for any incoming equipment to be moved right into the theater. Costume and scenery shops are something the department didn’t have before.

“No more building outside,” said Chipola Theater Director Charles Sirmon.

Dressing room space is another significant increase compared to the old facility. The old dressing rooms could fit about eight performers. These new dressing rooms fit about 40 to 60 performers, said Lorelli.

The experimental, or black box, theater will have about 150-seats that can be brought out from the wall with a push of a button, or arranged to whatever configuration the program can think up. The lights and sound components are also arrangeable to the performer’s needs. Sirmon envisions using the space for classes.

“This is the perfect facility for students to learn what happens with sound and lighting,” Sirmon said.

The dance studio is a wide, tall space with six windows toward the top, allowing for natural light to shine in. The special soft floors have not been put in yet.

An art gallery will provide a space for art shows or presentations. It can also double as a catering area during events.

“You’ll have a lot of space where you can entertain,” Lorelli said.

Construction on the new facility first began in July 2010. The grand opening is scheduled for September 2012 with an opening gala performance and a special exhibition in the art gallery.

Plans for the old 350-seat theater are still in the works.

With about 10,000 annual visitors for theater productions, artist series events, and other performances for area school children, the theater will expand its role as a community landmark with this new facility.

“It’s going to be second to none,” Lorelli said. “It’s going to be a little jewel in this area.”