Cleveland Construction, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina, held a physically distant ceremony to celebrate the topping-out for the new lobby structure for the Carolina Theatre. Approximately 100 years after original construction, the Carolina Theatre is getting a much-needed renovation and new addition.
Built in 1927, this historic Theatre is currently being restored to its original grandeur while meeting current building codes and standards. Attached to the Theatre is the new 6-story glass cube including a two-story spacious lobby that will attract both arts patrons and architecture enthusiasts. Class A office space and a mechanical penthouse will fill out the remaining floors with elevators and structural support for a future high-rise hotel atop of the theatre.
The restoration project is truly a study in the evolution of construction materials and methods. The original theatre was built using poured-in-place concrete for the structure. At the time, this was cutting edge construction technique. Fast forward 100 years, the new lobby addition now uses an alternative structural system designed by DIVERSAKORE that allows for simpler connections, longer spans that results in open floor plans, and weight reduction.
Details of the Theatre's history will be visible throughout, with old meeting new when the renovation is complete. The original marque will be resorted and hung in the lobby and visible from Tryon Street. The decorative plaster will also be reconstructed by artisans inside the theatre.
The 6-story lobby addition was designed by DCI Engineers out of Austin, Texas. It is a proprietary composite structural steel system, the first one of its kind in Charlotte. The concrete fuses to the prefabricated steel beams and panelized decking, creating a monolithic structure with an unprotected fire-rating of 2 hours. The façade is a combination of point-supported glass and curtainwall with high-performance low-e coatings.
Cleveland Construction’s management team celebrated the topping out with the project’s trade partners, engineers, code officials and consultants. Kris Swanson, DCI Engineers, Structural Engineer of Record stated, “It’s great to see something come to fruition from people who care what they build.”
Click to view the latest on the historic restoration of the Carolina Theater