Municipal Auditorium Special Committee — Charleston, WV
Date: 2024-04-04
Time: 16:00

CITY OF CHARLESTON
 West Virginia
 MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM SPECIAL
 COMMITEE

 AGENDA
 MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM SPECIAL COMMITEE
 APRIL 4, 2024 @ 4 PM
 CITY HALL
 501 VIRGINIA ST. E
 ROOM #308


1. WELCOME

2. BACKGROUND / HISTORY

3. DISCUSSION

4. ADJOURN




 *Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




 City Council | 501 Virginia Street, East | Post Office Box 2749 | Charleston, West Virginia 25330
 www.charlestonwv.gov | 304.348.8179 | 304.348.8038 fax

MINUTES
 SELECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

 THE MEETING WAS HELD IN THE AV ROOM #308 IN CITY HALL.

 4:00 P. M., APRIL 4, 2024

Sam Minardi, Co-Chair, called the meeting of the Select Advisory Committee On The
Municipal Auditorium to order at 4:00p.m., April 4, 2024.

Committee Members Present:
Sam Minardi
Carrie Fenwick* (over Zoom but was unable to participate)
Caitlin Cook
John Gianola
Bernie Layne


Members Absent:
Andrew Jordan


Other Councilmember Present:



A roll call was taken, and it was determined that a quorum was present.




 April 4, 2024
 1. BACKGROUND / HISTORY

Mayor Goodwin stated that the Select Committee is made up from members of the
Facilities Committee and the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Board. They
will be discussing the challenges of the Municipal Auditorium, as well as possible
solutions. After hiring OVG and after the pandemic, both facilities started to see a
significant turnaround. ZMM Architects & Engineers was hired to assess the Municipal
Auditorium for short- and long-term solutions to the decades of disrepair. The facility
had to be shut down due to significant health and safety issues.

Adam Krason, from ZMM Architects & Engineers, added that the Municipal Auditorium
is 85 years old, built by the City. Other than the art deco façade, the building is
considered conservative modern in its architecture. The original seating capacity was
reduced to 3,400 due to prior modifications.

Krason added that the building is in poor condition, adding that it was designed in a
manner that supports a positive visitor experience or for generating revenue. Every
building system requires work (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.) if it is going to be
salvaged. They looked at two options: full renovation and a new building. The full
renovation would include a pre-function gathering space, restrooms, dressing rooms,
etc. He added that even the building would still have many of the operation challenges if
fully renovated.

The building is approximately 53,000 feet of space, with a main level with a large stage,
mezzanine balcony and a basement that contains all of the support spaces for the
facility. There is also a basement below the stage area, which houses a lot of the life-
safety issues that were discovered. Krason added that the only part of the building that
is out of the flood plain is the front entrance, so a lot of improvements would have to be
made to keep the building safe from future flooding.

Krason added that the distinctive color of the building is not original, and was probably
added in the 1960s. Challenges were identified not long after the building was
completed that included poor acoustics and inadequate heating.

Per the assessment, significant challenges were identified:
 • Electrical service and water damage – risk of explosion. A replacement would
 have to be built above the stage and out of the flood plain.
 • Extensive masonry damage.
 • Lack of fire water service to the building.
 • Insufficient fire alarm system/lack of automatic smoke detection system.
 • Inadequate roof drainage/damage to roof.
 • Lack of automatic fire suppression system.
 • Accessibility is almost non-existent.
 • Unsafe dressing rooms/ deficit of restrooms
The Municipal Auditorium cannot operate until many of these issues are addressed.
Krason added that State Code states that when a certain percentage of repairs are


 April 4, 2024
done to a building, that building must be fully brought up to code. Krason added that the
City would need to invest additional hundreds of thousands into an investigation of the
façade. ZMM recommends that the use of the basement be abandoned except for
storage, and that a 7,500 square foot addition be added to the facility with a full
renovation. The second option would be to construct a new (approximately) 50,000
square foot auditorium. The cost of the two options is essentially the same.



 2. DISCUSSION

Councilmember Gianola asked what prompted the initial inspection. Mayor Goodwin
replied that the City requested it as they were repeatedly spending money on small
fixes. There is a need for this type of venue, and it can be fully booked.

Councilmember Minardi added that OVG has said that the Auditorium hits the “sweet
spot” of a venue that isn’t too big or too small. Krason added that they wouldn’t want to
keep the size the size no matter which option they chose. The Mayor added that they
have been getting requests from performers with the seating number that the
Auditorium can provide.

Layne added that other facilities of the same type are also able to adjust the size of their
venue to accommodate a wider variety of events. Krason recommended a feasibility
study for the size needed based on community and performer need.

Chief of Staff, Matthew Sutton, added that this type of venue is an economic drive for
the City, and decisions on its future should not be delayed.

Mayor Goodwin asked that the Committee send them any questions they may have so
the information can be ready by the time they meet again in the next few weeks.




Councilmember Gianola motioned to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned.




 April 4, 2024