By May 2024, the Bell Auditorium will look significantly different than it does today, according to Project Executive Consultant, HB Brantley.
Brantley said the nearly 2,700-seat venue will undergo major renovations that are currently scheduled to begin in April 2023.
He said the plan is to close the Bell from July 2023 to May 2024 to complete the project, which will include adding a two-story, 5,000-square-foot grand hall/promenade; demolishing and rebuilding the venue’s dressing rooms; installing a fire sprinkler system; and updating the existing green room.
Brantley said the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority has hired four local contractors: McKnight Construction Company, J&B Construction, Perkins+Will, and Dickinson Architects, to help with the design and planning phases of the project.
He said they’re still working with these contractors to determine construction scheduling and cost estimates.
“We should know more about the projected construction cost in December,” Brantley said.
He said the renovations are designed to improve the aesthetics, functionality, and safety of the venue, which opened in March 1940.
“The grand hall/promenade addition was designed to complement and respect the Bell Auditorium’s historical significance, while also providing a stronger sense of arrival at the Telfair Street entrance,” he said. “The two-story grand hall space will also provide an opportunity to host events, while also serving as pre-function space.”
Having newer, more modern dressing rooms will also allow the venue to host larger shows.
“In addition to providing more efficient ingress/egress to the auditorium, the lighting, sound, wayfinding, and finishes will also be updated,” Brantley said.
ABD will provide its readers with further updates, including construction costs, as they become available.
