The renovation of the Von Braun Center’s Mark C. Smith Concert Hall is turning out to be more costly than city leaders initially expected.
Renovation Costs Rise
On Thursday night, the Huntsville City Council approved a $446,000 change order for the “back of house” improvements. This pushed the total renovation cost to nearly $16.5 million.
According to city documents, the price increase stems from “unforeseen conditions.” Specifically, crews encountered issues with sewer lines, plumbing, and roof drains for the kitchen.
“They had a change in scope that was due to sewer and electrical changes that were unexpected in the construction when they were working on this,” explained City Finance Director Penny Smith.
How It’s Being Funded
Councilman Bill Kling asked if the extra funds would come from the city’s liquor and lodging tax rather than general appropriations. Smith confirmed this, saying, “It does, actually.”
She explained that the city manages the debt for the Von Braun Civic Center and that this increase will be folded into a previously issued $30 million bond from February. Fortunately, the city has seen savings in other areas of the broader VBC renovation, helping offset the added expense.
Purpose and Additional Improvements
The council approved the concert hall upgrades last year to attract larger touring theater productions. Those changes include extending the back of the hall and expanding the VBC’s kitchen, as outlined in the city’s agreement with Turner Construction Company.
City officials said the extension was necessary because some theatrical sets were too large to fit backstage in the existing space. Other improvements include a larger green room to accommodate more performers, and enhancements to the Playhouse and Saturn Ballroom.
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