 PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Killis Almond, FAIA was first
brought into the project for the Galveston Grand Opera House
in January 1981. Since that time five phases have been
completed on the project and a total of $8.2 million in improvements have made. Funds are currently being raised for the
final phase, projected to cost $2.7 million.
The building, which
encompasses one-fourth of a city block, is a four-story
historic hotel structure with a Grand Opera House located
immediately behind. Built in 1894, the structural system is
load-bearing masonry walls, both interior and exterior, with
wood framing for the floor structure in the hotel and the
opera house building. The exterior façade is constructed of
a hard-pressed dark ruby-red brick highlighted with Cordova
Cream Texas limestone.
The third and fourth
floors of the historic hotel portion were renovated as
eleven apartments and office space for the 1894, Inc.,
theatre operation. The theatre, which was rehabilitated in
1985/86, is a 1,040 seat house with state of the art
performing, cinematic,
 and lecture capabilities. The last
phase includes the completion of the first floor of the
historic hotel into a community facility and the second
floor into offices and bathroom facilities. Killis Almond
and Associates provided full architectural services
including preliminary design and planning of the theatre
space. The firm also provided full construction management
services for the last phase of the auditorium
rehabilitation at a cost of $2.1 million.
The Grand 1894 Opera
House in Galveston, Texas, is listed on the National
Register of historic buildings with state significance and
all phases of the work have been reviewed by the State
Historic Preservation Officer for compliance with national
guidelines. |