By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Demolition and renovation work is now underway in the auditorium at Central Square Cultural and Civic Center in Glenwood and by the end of this year, the facility will boast a renovated auditorium among other improvements.

Much of the renovation at Central Square is  made possible by a $4 million boost included for Central Square in a state bonding bill a few years ago.  The state money, however, will not  come in a check to Central Square. The funding process involves submitting invoices through Minnewaska Area School District, the fiscal agent for Central Square.  The state funding is then paid directly to those doing the work through submitted and approved invoices.

The renovation work at Central Square was to begin in January of this year, but unforeseen delays meant work didn’t begin in earnest until this month.  The first phase of the Central Square rehabilitation includes “selective demolition,” including removing and replacing the concrete floor of the auditorium and replacing the main floor seating.  Some other work in phase one  includes: installing a catwalk system in the attic space above the auditorium, mechanical and electrical work, installing exterior doors and windows, ceiling grid and flooring install and stage lighting.    

“We are very excited to see the work begin, but I must admit it did tug at my heartstrings a bit to see the demo of the old seating and floor in the auditorium. Change is inevitable, especially in an aging repurposed building, but we are looking for every opportunity to honor the building’s past,” stated Marie Chan, executive director of Central Square. “We are preserving all of the original light fixtures in the auditorium and lobby. The balcony is being preserved, meaning all the original seating will remain—although, there are many seats that need repair, so we salvaged the parts from the lower auditorium seats to refurbish those in the balcony. We also set several seats aside for future needs. 

“We know how much this building means to people in our community, and that is a thought we hold close as we move through the process of renovating the spaces inside,” Chan stated.

Renovation work in the iconic auditorium is estimated to be completed by September.  Then, work begins on the gym and moves to the exterior improvements through the summer months.  

Innovative Builders of Alexandria is doing much of the work.