LBCC Auditorium Gets Renovated

The Long Beach City College auditorium will get a $29-million makeover.

The auditorium, also known as Building J, houses the performing arts department at the Liberal Arts Campus. Renovations include a new dance studio, air conditioning, a fresh lobby, costume shop and green room among other upgrades.

“Long Beach City College is celebrating our 90th anniversary,” said LBCC superintendent-president Reagan Romali. “We’re extremely committed to academic excellence in a variety of ways including providing our students state-of-the-art learning facilities.”

Romali, Board of Trustees members, students and staff attended a groundbreaking ceremony in front of the Greek-columned structure Thursday, March 8.

“When we return here for our grand re-opening, we will be standing in front of a renovated auditorium that will look very similar from the front, but will be far improved inside,” Romali said. “And it’s going to be so much more than just the LBCC auditorium. It will be a premier venue for theater, dance, award-winning shows and lecture series.”

The auditorium has hosted many shows over the years and showcased student talent. Presentations ranged from classical recitals to plays.

The annual Jazz and Pop Holiday Concert, directed by now-retired instructor Tom Dustman, was a favorite for many around Christmas time during its long run. Tickets sold well and the public filled the venue and clapped to the beat of the music.

Since the auditorium opened in May of 1957, famous performers and personalities have gone on stage including musicians Dave Brubeck and Kenny G., actors Val Kilmer and Vincent Price, singer Shirley Jones and speakers Cornel West and Van Jones, to name a few.

Funds from the voter-approved Measure E and Measure LB Bonds will pay for the refurbishments and repairs.

Gary Scott, who taught music at the college from 1988 to 2012, returned for the groundbreaking of the building he was closely involved with. He was dean of creative arts and applied sciences from 2000 to 2012.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “This auditorium is a treasure in the center of Long Beach. It’s an acoustic marvel.”

John Fylpaa, who served at the college from 1978 until retiring in 2011, also was invited to the event.

“During my time at the college as well as today, the student body utilizes these facilities regularly and will be beneficiaries of a remodeled auditorium,” said Fylpaa, who started as a faculty member, worked directly with the ASB leadership programs, became dean of student affairs and retired as an instructional dean of kinesiology and athletics.

Fylpaa said the students will benefit.

“The opportunity to learn is going to be in an environment that’s more conducive to what is out there for them after they graduate,” said Fylpaa, who remains involved with the college through the LBCC Foundation.

Mel Tan, senior associate partner and lead project designer with SVA Architects, explained in more detail what will be happening to the auditorium.

“The facility is being renovated to meet current building codes and repair/replace/upgrade building components that have outlived their life expectancy such as the seating, carpeting and stage curtains,” Tan told the Beachcomber through email. “A key renovation to the facility is the replacement of the existing HVAC system that will introduce air conditioning to the theater, which did not previously exist.”

Tan said other improvements include expanding the facility to accommodate a dance studio and drama classroom, on-stage lighting, costume design and other elements related to theatrical production.

Modern technology and digital audio visual equipment will be added and the main lobby, restrooms, ticketing and concession areas will be renewed.

“New instruction spaces that will be added to the theater include a dedicated drama/theater arts classroom, a dance studio (that can double as a performance space), and a new costume studio,” Tan added. “To support the instruction of theater productions, the backstage, control room, workshop and main theater have been augmented to create teaching stations.”

Tan said the adjacent buildings will not be impacted by the performing arts center expansion.

“A majority of the new spaces were developed by replacing the existing one-story portion of the theater with a two story addition,” he said.

The renovations are slated for completion by the summer of 2019, he said.

SVA Architects is the project architect, while Novus Construction is the general contractor. The Cordoba Corporation oversees and manages all the LBCC Measure E and LB projects.

“I think it’s a good renovation,” said nursing student Jasmine Arzate. “I think it’s good that they’re starting to expand it and make it bigger for everyone.”

Brenda Green, a business student, attended the groundbreaking and looked at the renderings displayed of the final product.

“It was gorgeous,” she said. “The colors are beautiful, very coordinated; very upscale.”

Deborah Salazar, who majors in radio and television broadcasting, joined the event and expressed enthusiasm.

“I feel it was a long time coming,” she said. “The history within this building and the joy that it has brought to our campus with the live performances will now be enjoyed by new millennials and the alumni.”

kirt@beachcomber.news