Macky Auditorium Concert Hall

The Wrench of Destiny!

When you are talking big pipes installed at Macky, you need the appropriate tool: The Wrench of Destiny!

Macky Auditorium is set for a summer of much needed renovations

Now that the students are gone for the summer, it’s a great time to start a couple of major projects, long time in the wish list: Fire Suppression and Evaporative Cooling.

The Fire Suppression Project has been in the works since 2007. Macky Auditorium, as a 100-year old historical building, is worth protecting while kept improved to meet modern building standards. Given the high levels of occupancy that Macky gets during the academic year and concert season, this project was of paramount importance. With this in mind, the University is regularly awarded funds by the Colorado Legislature to pursue these projects.

In 2008, the University was granted enough funds to work on two historical buildings, Ramaley (which houses the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and Macky. The project at Macky is expected to cost up to $1.2 million. After all the engineering and architectural studies, the final project includes:

• Expanding the existing sprinkler system throughout the building, and add zones in currently unserviced areas, with special attention to the Hall, Gallery, Foyer and the public areas. The total area to cover exceeds 48,000 square feet
• Upgrading doors to guarantee they can withstand a fire longer and provide people a better chance to escape a fire. Some of these doors are historical doors, and modifications will preserve their value
• Modifying access and egress points at all levels, including the basement, backstage and green rooms

The other project we are most excited about is the Evaporative Cooling. Thanks to a generous grant and a loan from the University, we are able to install an environmentally friendly system, attached to the existing heating infrastructure. Work is slated to start soon, and is expected to cost up to $120,000.

Our goal with an Evaporative Cooling is to be able to present events during the summer in a comfortable environment, while trying to minimize the environmental impact. Conscious of the over-saturation of performing arts and events during the summer in the Denver/Boulder, we are carefully planning for programming in the summer of 2012.

As these much need renovation projects move along, we will posting frequently about the progress. To check the latest pictures and videos in our Facebook page.