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 City of Asheville seeking nominees for Neighborhood Hero Award Posted on November 25, 2019 by Polly McDaniel Many things make a good neighborhood: sidewalks, shady trees and manageable car traffic come to mind. But most of all, it’s the people who take time to know each other, who care about the health, safety and rights of their neighbors, who help and look out for children, elders and others in need. These are [...] Asheville ghost story: Helen’s bridge Posted on October 30, 2019October 29, 2019 by Polly McDaniel With Halloween coming up, we thought you might be interested in a local ghost story. Helen’s Bridge, 201 Beaucatcher Road, is made of quarried stone and was constructed in 1909 to provide access to the nearby Zealandia Mansion. The legend speaks of a woman named Helen who lived at or near the mansion with her beloved [...] City of Asheville partners with Buncombe County and historically black neighborhoods to create African American historic markers project Posted on October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 by Polly McDaniel A series of historic markers celebrating the heritage of four historically black neighborhoods is in the works as part of a partnership between the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. During their Oct. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted an interlocal agreement to work with the County on this project. The project is being led at [...] 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.
City of Asheville seeking nominees for Neighborhood Hero Award Posted on November 25, 2019 by Polly McDaniel Many things make a good neighborhood: sidewalks, shady trees and manageable car traffic come to mind. But most of all, it’s the people who take time to know each other, who care about the health, safety and rights of their neighbors, who help and look out for children, elders and others in need. These are [...]
Asheville ghost story: Helen’s bridge Posted on October 30, 2019October 29, 2019 by Polly McDaniel With Halloween coming up, we thought you might be interested in a local ghost story. Helen’s Bridge, 201 Beaucatcher Road, is made of quarried stone and was constructed in 1909 to provide access to the nearby Zealandia Mansion. The legend speaks of a woman named Helen who lived at or near the mansion with her beloved [...]
City of Asheville partners with Buncombe County and historically black neighborhoods to create African American historic markers project Posted on October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 by Polly McDaniel A series of historic markers celebrating the heritage of four historically black neighborhoods is in the works as part of a partnership between the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. During their Oct. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted an interlocal agreement to work with the County on this project. The project is being led at [...]