Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Transformation Happening Now Conceptual design images and information will be released on the evening of January 15, 2020 at a public information session held at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Please feel free to register in advance for this meeting by visiting www.transformthewolfe.com Pre-registration is not required. Find the latest press release here. Background By no means is the concept of renovating the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium or building a new performance center a new idea. For decades there have been periodic requests from staff, community organizations and media outlets for renovations to this facility. In fiscal year 2017, Asheville City Council approved $500,000 in capital funds towards creation of an initial design and budget development for a renovation of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Additionally in fiscal year 2017, Asheville City Council approved a $2 per vehicle increase in special event parking fees, with the increase directly dedicated to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Improvement fund. The current balance of this fund is $140,000. Timeline 2017 – Council approved funding towards creation of initial design and budget development for renovations to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. 2017 – Council approves a $2 per vehicle increase in special event parking fees dedicated to Thomas Wolfe Improvement Fund. October 2018 – RFQ issued to select a qualified design team. February 2019 – Earl Swensson Associates, Inc., an architecture firm based in Nashville, TN to complete a stakeholder needs analysis, conceptual design and base budget. ESa has acted a the lead firm on numerous theater renovation and construction projects, highlighted by the Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston, SC and the Schemerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN. January 2020 – Presentation of conceptual designs to community Supporting Documents 2005: Civic Center Report by the John Lock Foundation 2005: Thomas Wolfe Recommendations by Theatre Consultants Collaborative 2006: Economic Impact Study by Western Carolina University 2015: Capital Campaign Feasibility Analysis by Western Carolina University Management Students. 2015: Facility Wide Energy Assessment Report by Griffin Engineering 2016: Economic Impact Study by Western Carolina University 2016: Facility Wide Security Assessment by Asheville Police Department 2016: Structural, Acoustical & Costings Report by Threshold Acoustics Current Physical State of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, in photos. Original & Vintage photos of the Auditorium site prior to construction of the Civic Arena Contact Information Chris Corl, General Manager, Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville 828-259-5452 Dustin Clemens, Program Manager, Capital Projects 828-232-4580 Related Services Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm. More Related Services Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Transformation News Buncombe County, City of Asheville launch COVID-19 call center Posted on April 2, 2020April 6, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Over the past few weeks, Buncombe County has received hundreds of inquiries from our community regarding COVID-19. In a close partnership, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville have organized and launched a Ready Team call center, a resource to help answer your COVID-19-related questions. The Ready Team call center is made up of City of [...] Neighborhood spotlight: Redwood Forest Posted on March 27, 2020April 6, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Where is it? Redwood Forest is located in East Asheville off of Tunnel Road on the north and Swannanoa Road on the south, across from the Haw Creek Community. Trinity Presbyterian Church is located on Shawnee Trail on the west side of our community. Details: Redwood Forest comprises approximately 80 families. First homes were built here [...] Neighborhood spotlight: Oakley community Posted on February 27, 2020February 27, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Neighborhood: Oakley. Where is it? Bounded by Sweeten Creek Road, Thompson Street and I-240. Details: Oakley is a very large neighborhood with more than 2,000 homes. It is a diverse community and have many features outside of residences. We have a local library, Oakley Elementary, a fire station, Asheville’s only police substation, a park, Ray Kisiah baseball [...] More Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Transformation News
Watch livestream of city council meetings View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Gun safety Learn how to prevent deadly gun accidents and teach your children what to do if they come across a firearm.
Buncombe County, City of Asheville launch COVID-19 call center Posted on April 2, 2020April 6, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Over the past few weeks, Buncombe County has received hundreds of inquiries from our community regarding COVID-19. In a close partnership, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville have organized and launched a Ready Team call center, a resource to help answer your COVID-19-related questions. The Ready Team call center is made up of City of [...]
Neighborhood spotlight: Redwood Forest Posted on March 27, 2020April 6, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Where is it? Redwood Forest is located in East Asheville off of Tunnel Road on the north and Swannanoa Road on the south, across from the Haw Creek Community. Trinity Presbyterian Church is located on Shawnee Trail on the west side of our community. Details: Redwood Forest comprises approximately 80 families. First homes were built here [...]
Neighborhood spotlight: Oakley community Posted on February 27, 2020February 27, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Neighborhood: Oakley. Where is it? Bounded by Sweeten Creek Road, Thompson Street and I-240. Details: Oakley is a very large neighborhood with more than 2,000 homes. It is a diverse community and have many features outside of residences. We have a local library, Oakley Elementary, a fire station, Asheville’s only police substation, a park, Ray Kisiah baseball [...]