Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center
Center architects reveal plans
Florence Morning News - October 18, 2007
By Justin Bailey
FLORENCE — The architects for the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center revealed incomplete schematic plans of what the venue will look like during the center’s board meeting Wednesday.
Project architect Malcolm Holzman, of the New York-based Holzman-Moss Architects firm, presented multiple schematic drawings of the building’s front entrance, as well as the seating area with water fountain and the 400-seat amphitheater with a reflecting pond, at the meeting. Detailed photos of the venue’s auditorium models were displayed, too. The 900-seat auditorium will be constructed with wood. The building’s exterior materials have not been finalized, but three options are being considered.
The building will either be South Carolina-based blue granite with mahogany-colored, South Dakota-based granite occupying the venue’s inlays, or the building will be the South Dakota granite with Georgia white marble occupying the venue’s inlays. The shipping costs of moving a large amount of South Dakota granite would be expensive. The cost of using South Carolina blue granite as the main material would be inexpensive in shipping costs, but it would be expensive in erecting it because it would be used in much larger blocks than the South Dakota granite. A final decision on the building’s exterior material should be made over the next month’s time.
The building’s front entrance will consist of a glazed glass surface.
Changes were made in the plans to make the lobby one-third larger than it was in the original plans. The lobby is expected to be one of the center’s focal features as it will be the location for receptions and fund-raising events.
“The lobby will be nearly 9,000 square feet and will be large enough to accommodate substantial receptions and other functions,” said FMU president and center board chairman Dr. Fred Carter. “We talk about the auditorium as a feature, the black box theater as a feature, but the lobby itself is a major feature of this facility, as will be the amphitheater.”
Carter is seeking local corporate sponsorship to cover the amphitheater construction costs. The estimated cost for the 400-seat amphitheater is about $325,000.
Architect Brad Lukanic said construction documents should be completed and submitted for final approval by mid-March. A 60-day bidding period will follow. Construction is anticipated to begin in late spring or early summer. The venue is expected to be completed in 18 months with a possible opening scheduled for September 2009.
The performing arts center will contain space for theatrical and musical performances, instructional classrooms and office space. FMU’s fine arts program will use the center for performances, programs and art exhibits. National traveling music, dance and theater productions will be booked to perform at the center as well. The center will be located on the back portion of the vacant lot that includes the corner of Palmetto and South Dargan streets and is situated along Cheves Street. A black box theater building and a building for classroom and office space will be situated on either side of the center’s front entrance. A drop-off area, handicapped and limited school bus parking will be located along the Cheves Street façade.