SALT LAKE CITY — Abravanel Hall will need at least $200 million in safety, accessibility and technology upgrades, with members of the Salt Lake County Council weighing whether they can remodel or if it's easier to just rebuild the 45-year-old building.
The study was be presented to members of the Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday. The revered concert hall, owned by the county, is swept up in a multi-billion dollar downtown redesign that includes a remodeled Delta Center to accommodate the new National Hockey League team purchased by Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith.
That prompted community outcry from people concerned Abravanel Hall was in the path of a bulldozer for the new sports, arts, culture and entertainment district. That continued on Tuesday with council members calling for the building to be preserved, despite its problems.
Arts lovers have rallied to save Abravanel Hall. In response to the public outcry, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson recently stated it was her "preference" that Abravanel Hall stay where it is in the downtown plans, but has warned that the aging facility was in dire need of upgrades.
"The reason I last week doubled down on this idea that we preserve is that the community spoke," Mayor Wilson said Tuesday.
At the briefing, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera CEO Steve Brosnik spoke to the musicians and their love of the facility.
"We have an incredible orchestra, we have a great hall and we serve nearly 400,000 people a year," he told the council.
It's Abravanel Hall's prime downtown location that makes it a "key strength," the study said. However, community outreach conducted for the study (including the Utah Symphony, patrons, neighboring businesses and residents) found it gives off an air of exclusivity and some view it as "not a place for me" which could hinder its success.
Inside, the study found that a fire suppression system needs to be upgraded to meet modern code requirements. The building is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"As currently designed, the building presents significant design challenges and certain building systems are in need of replacement and/or upgrades to meet accessibility, safety, and the needs or current and future performances and patrons," the study said. "Accessibility is a particular concern. It is important that the venue is brought up to current ADA standards to meet accessibility codes and best practices for all community members."
The study said that many key systems are past their useful life and "no longer meet current safety standards."
"Systems need replacement or upgrades to avoid significant and costly operational disruptions," it said. "The venue’s current technology does not support modern symphony, presenter, or patron needs and expectations, and limits the types of events that could be presented."
Abravanel Hall, which is the home of the Utah Symphony, also has problems for performers, the study says.
"Inconsistent sound across the stage for musicians. Inconsistent sound for patrons in the hall, especially on the first and second tiers. Amplified sound is challenging, adding enhanced deployable acoustic curtains would significantly improve sound," it said.
There would also need to be improvements to the backstage and lobby areas to accommodate performers and patrons.
To fix it all? At least $200 million in costs, the study projected. Members of the Salt Lake County Council so far are not being asked to fund it immediately, but the price tag could come up as Salt Lake City moves ahead with the downtown development.
It prompted a little sticker shock from members of the council, who noted their deferred maintenance fund is only $8 million. Some questioned if it would be easier to rebuild rather than try to retrofit Abravanel Hall.
"Both of them have very huge price tags and right now? The money isn’t specifically there," Salt Lake County Council Chair Laurie Stringham told FOX 13 News.
The Salt Lake City Council is being asked to approve a .5% sales tax increase city-wide to pay for the district. Some of the plans being discussed include punching a hole through the Salt Palace (which Salt Lake County also owns) to reconnect the east and west sides of the city and bring the district together. Mayor Erin Mendenhall and members of the city council have spoken in favor of the downtown district.
"Abravanel Hall is a tiny piece. We’re talking about taking out a large portion of the Salt Palace and having to rebuild it somehow. That’s actually a bigger concern to me right now than Abravanel Hall," Stringham said. "And I hate to tell Abravanel Hall people that, because I know they’re passionate. That’s huge and it brings in more money than Abravanel Hall will ever bring in. When we’re talking about money that comes in an offsets people’s taxes? That’s my biggest concern."
