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Home / Department Pages / Communication and Public Engagement / Projects and Initiatives Information / Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Transformation

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

 


 

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