By: Deborah Johnson Wood
The $1.6 million renovation of the 121-year-old Ladies Literary Club at 61 Sheldon SE, Grand Rapids, is far from completed. But that hasn't stopped the owner, Calvin College, from hosting concerts and other events in the historic auditorium.
One of those events is Calvin's renowned January Series, which runs through January 23. The Ladies Literary Club is one of 12 new venues around the country hosting live web casts of the January Series—a technological event that Series organizers added this year.
The college upgraded the sound and video equipment in time for the January series airing.
Future acoustical upgrades will provide optimal acoustics for a variety of musical and spoken word performances. Other renovations are in various stages of completion.
"The cleaning of the building's exterior is just part of the exterior work," says Calvin spokesperson Tom McWhertor. "There were bricks disintegrating, so they were replaced, and water and ice damage on the roof was repaired."
McWhertor adds that bulletproof glass now protects the building's genuine Tiffany stained glass window, valued at $260,000.
"We're installing a lift near the south entrance that will provide handicap accessibility to every level but the second floor," McWhertor says. A future goal is to install elevators for easy access to all levels.
During performances, there will be a lot going on backstage and a lot going on below stage. A small green room will be located under the stage, new dressing rooms added, and new restrooms for performers will replace an existing kitchen.
To-date, the college has raised some $900,000 for the project, including a $98,000 earmark in the federal Omnibus Funding Bill passed in December 2007.
Source: Tom McWhertor, Calvin College; Phil de Haan, Calvin College; Tom Nemitz, Cornerstone Architects
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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