Friday, November 30, 2007

Ray of Light




Sunlight pours into the theater while equipment is being loaded into the attic through an access door in the roof.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Paint Stripping



A member of the construction crew goes to work with a heat gun and scraper, to clean years of paint off the 1926 solid Cyprus columns around the atrium.

See a video of the work here.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Construction Tour


Executive Director Susan Danis tours the theater with past Board Chair Edward Bavaria, his wife Jane, and their friend Joan Stonecipher.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Crane, Part 1


One crane is used to attach an extension to another crane.

Large air conditioning duct segments are lifted to the roof of the theater
for installation in the attic.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Orchestra Pit, A Look Back to July




Some earlier photos of the orchestra pit taken by Willis A. smith Construction, Inc. in July. See more photos here.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Skylight





Two shots of the Atrium before the skylight went on by Willis A. Construction, inc., and one with the new skylight.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Orchestra Pit Costruction


The rear area of the pit, which will eventually be covered over by the new stage, begins to take shape.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Casiana and Bill Schmidt



Donors Casiana and Bill Schmidt on a tour of the Opera House with Executive Director Susan Danis (center). The renovated auditorium will be named the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater in their honor.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Atrium


The Lobby Atrium seen from the corner of the third floor McCorkle Lounge.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Fire Tower Reroofing

The roofing crew works at clearing the tile off of the fire stair tower between the theater and the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard.

Truss Installation

A new truss is installed on the roof of the theater. This truss will carry some of the weight of the theater roof to the outside walls of the theater, allowing the removal of the projection booth columns in the center of the balcony.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Excavating Under the Stage, Part 2



A backhoe works its way out of the theater, as excavation of the rear of the orchestra pit is completed.

See Part 1.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Merrill Lynch

Executive Director Susan Danis and Controller Ken Kwiatkowski of Sarasota Opera on a tour of the theater with Managing Director Larry Fraczak and Executive Assistant Sheila Pearson of Merrill Lynch.


Sheila Pearson, Susan Danis, Larry Fraczak, Ken Kwiatkowski

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Courtyard Reroofing - Video



The construction crew forms a human chain to speed the removal of the old roof tile around the Donna wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard.

See some earlier photos of the reroofing.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Atrium Scaffolding

Scaffolding setup in the atrium to facilitate plastering and painting.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Roof Sequence Continued

The roof is prepared for the skylight.

The skylight is lifted into place.

Roof with the new skylight in place. and old tile removed from the fire stair tower at left.

View the earlier post on the reroofing of the Opera House.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Friday, November 2, 2007

Grading the Theater

Soil is brought in through the back of the theater by a backhoe and smoothed out by a green bobcat to make a level surface for the pouring of the theater floor.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Harvey and Betsy Hinrichs


Board member and Building on the Vision Campaign Co-Chair Betsy Hinrichs visits the theater with her husband Harvey Hinrichs.

Courtyard Reroofing

The old roof tiles are removed from around the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard. They will be replaced with new ones, true to the historic style of the Opera House.