BASS RENOVATION TIMELINE
 WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Bass Concert Hall will close at the end of the current 06/07 Season (May 2007) to undergo an extensive 18-month makeover. Bass is scheduled to reopen in late 2008 with a grand reopening scheduled for January of 2009.
The $14.7 million project will give the 25 year old venue a new look inside and out. Design plans include bringing the 3,000-seat theatre up to 21st century fire & safety codes, plus: - State-of-the-art acoustics
- A glass-front facade and larger, light-filled lobby
- An expanded five-story lobby & atrium
- Restaurant space for patron dining
- Improved interior lighting
- Increased restroom capacity
- New flooring, sidewalls & decor
WHO DESIGNED THE NEW BASS?
The designers are BOORA Architects of Portland, Oregon in association with Austin-based CCS&H Architects. Lead architect Stan Boles specializes in facilities for the cultural arts and higher education.
HOW WILL THE PROJECT BE FUNDED?
The University has committed $9 million to renovate Bass and the Performing Arts Center has secured a bond to pay for the remaining $5.7 million. While the bricks and mortar are funded, the PAC will increase fundraising efforts for its programming endowment. Our goal is to raise an additional $10 million to bring our
Endowment for Performing Excellence to a total of $20 million. This endowment is a permanent source of income that supports outstanding programming in all PAC venues and makes the arts available to all of Austin by subsidizing ticket prices, free youth performances and community outreach.
WILL THERE BE A SEASON DURING CLOSURE?
The PAC's largest theatre will be closed to performances for 18 months. There will be no traditional fine arts membership season, however, there will be quite a bit of activity in the PAC's remaining 5 venues, including concerts and student productions.
HOGG AUDITORIUM
At one point the PAC considered transferring our subscription season to Hogg during the Bass renovation, but in the end, this proved an impractical option. The Hogg restoration project is in its early design stages, but no timeline has been set. Thus, for now, our focus is on Bass Concert Hall.
What's most exciting? This down time will give us the opportunity to draw attention to the other side of the PAC, the educational side. The PAC will continue to teach (lighting, set construction and costume design), premiere new student/faculty works and showcase UT talent throughout the renovation.
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