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 Watch a live stream of the City channel View live televised Asheville City Council meetings, at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Sign up for city e-newsletter Receive City News in your inbox! 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 Jeremy Lett steps into new role as Asheville Neighborhood Services Specialist Posted on March 3, 2021March 3, 2021 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville has a new go-to person dedicated to two-way communication with our neighborhoods. Jeremy Lett has joined the City as Neighborhood Services Specialist, working alongside Neighborhood and Community Engagement Manager Brenda Mills. This role is a part of the new initiatives set forth by the City from the Reimagining [...] Asheville residents invited to take survey about City government Posted on January 7, 2021January 11, 2021 by Polly McDaniel How are we doing, as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with the Polco/National Community Survey company to find out. The National Community Survey captures residents’ opinions on governance and participation, also drilling down to specific issues such as the built environment, community engagement, recreation and wellness, the economy, safety and mobility. Some residents [...] Asheville 2020 in review: Response to pandemic, protests and more Posted on December 28, 2020February 17, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville has not seen a year like 2020 in a hundred years — literally. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Not since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 has the world — including our corner of it — experienced this kind of public health challenge. Working [...] More Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Transformation News
Watch a live stream of the City channel 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.
Jeremy Lett steps into new role as Asheville Neighborhood Services Specialist Posted on March 3, 2021March 3, 2021 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville has a new go-to person dedicated to two-way communication with our neighborhoods. Jeremy Lett has joined the City as Neighborhood Services Specialist, working alongside Neighborhood and Community Engagement Manager Brenda Mills. This role is a part of the new initiatives set forth by the City from the Reimagining [...]
Asheville residents invited to take survey about City government Posted on January 7, 2021January 11, 2021 by Polly McDaniel How are we doing, as your City government? The City of Asheville is working with the Polco/National Community Survey company to find out. The National Community Survey captures residents’ opinions on governance and participation, also drilling down to specific issues such as the built environment, community engagement, recreation and wellness, the economy, safety and mobility. Some residents [...]
Asheville 2020 in review: Response to pandemic, protests and more Posted on December 28, 2020February 17, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville has not seen a year like 2020 in a hundred years — literally. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Not since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 has the world — including our corner of it — experienced this kind of public health challenge. Working [...]