JANUARY 2011 NEWS
TWO GENERAL CONTRACTORS SELECTED FOR DEANE PROJECT
Two general contractors have been selected to undertake different portions of the Deane Center construction project at a total cost of $3.5 million.
As 2010 ended, Robert Feaster Corporation of
Northumberland, PA wrapped up final details of the facade restoration of the former Davis Furniture building. At a total cost of $287,000, the contractor has replaced windows, doors and repainted and re-pointed brick work. Alexander Building Construction Company of State College, PA has begun work on the interior of the project which will include the Black Box Theatre. Construction is expected to be complete in nine to ten months.
Since late 2003, Alexander has operated as a subsidiary of Butz Enterprises, Inc., the holding company comprised of Alexander (serving the Harrisburg Capital Region, State College and central Pennsylvania), Shoemaker Construction Company (of West Conshohocken, serving parts of New Jersey, and southeastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia), and Alvin H. Butz, Incorporated, which services the Lehigh Valley area. Together, the combined companies are consistently ranked on the Engineering News Record Top 400 Construction Firms.
"It's really nice to have the project underway," said Scott Bastian, an original member of the Deane Center Board of Directors and the current chair of the project site committee. "Dave Tews helped coordinate the painting of various window scenes that will block out construction from Main Street. The effect has been fun. We've gotten lots of compliments."
CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY!
The arts in the Tioga County region have never been more alive! With the debut of the Warehouse Theatre and gallery, which was part of Phase I of the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, nearly a
dozen local groups now have a permanent home to practice and perform. This temporary theatre is only a taste of what's to come to the former Davis Furniture strore in downtown Wellsboro.
Deane Center volunteers have now launched Phase II of construction which is scheduled for completion Fall of 2011 which will feature:
Black Box Theatre
- 155-seat flexible seating theatre allowing multiple stage configurations
- Stage and seating can be removed to make room for receptions or other uses.
Main Street Renovation
- Creation of 3 store fronts from long time vacant property to increase downtown retail activity and foot traffic
- Renovation of 7,000 square feet of multipurpose space that will serve as a focal point for community activity; ideal for meetings, conferences, receptions, and private and public rehearsal space.
CAMPAIGN SURGES PAST $4 MILLION
General Campaign to Launch
It's time to pull out all the stops to ensure solid financial footing for the future Deane Center. To date, the campaign team, chaired by Jim Dunham, Rick Doganiero, and Bill Hebe, has been focusing time and energy meeting one-on-one with major gift prospects. The strategy has worked successfully, bringing 121 donors to the table as construction now gets underway.
On January 30th at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro Deane Center Volunteers will host a special "insiders" presentation on the project to date including construction plans and schedules, fund-raising success, and future plans. The program is open to the general public in hopse of building financial support for the vision by all residents and potential Deane Center users in the greater Tioga regions. Beginning at 2:30 PM, the agenda will include an overview of the building features as presented by architect Robert Lack. Rob Steele, Executive Director of the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, PA, will also speak on the prospective business strategy of the Deane organization and its support of some 30 area performance groups. Tours of the Deane Center will also be available.
Stay tuned as events develop. Thank you to Dave Tews and Karen Doganiero for chairing the general campaign phase of the fund-raising activity.
LOCAL STUDENTS PAINT WINDOW SILHOUETTES
You may catch yourself doing a double-take as you pass the Main Street windows of the Deane Center. Thanks to Rock L. Butler middle school students, motorists and passers-by will be treated to a series of
realistic window silhouettes - hiding on-going construction inside- that represent a sample of the Deane Center activity to come. Heather Mee of Fotografee & Design was instrumental in contacting Mrs. Heather Ladd of the Rock L. Butler Student Council to test student interest in helping with the project. Tioga Container Company provided cardboard cut to the exact specifications of each window. After projecting and copying a sketched image onto each board, Student Council students painted in the outlines. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive, " said Heather. "I think it really promotes what the Deane Center will offer - music, arts, dance and theatre - to the community. The 7th and 8th grade students were very enthusiastic and thrilled with their work as the panels came together. They couldn't wait for their work to be displayed downtown."
