Behind the Scenes of Renovations at Jarman Hall
Much-needed renovations begin on Longwood's largest auditorium this semester
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
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Rotunda Reporter
Jarman Hall has been a landmark on the Longwood campus since the 1950s when it was constructed as a meeting space for performances and gatherings for 1,000 patrons. The building shut its doors the day following Convocation in early September for renovations to begin. In order to enhance the experience of the current populace, Jarman Auditorium is in need of a "facelift."
The project was initially conceived in order to renovate the antiquated heating and air-conditioning system which vibrated floors and drowned out performances. According to Director of Capital Planning J.W. Wood, "Jarman had a notorious reputation for a noisy air-handling system." In addition, the building's interior had a serious lack of illumination, natural and artificial. The dark-blue seats and bas relief walls, coupled with insufficient lighting and few windows gave the auditorium an oppressive, shadowy sensation which certainly contributed to the presence of Dr. Jarman's ghost. The acoustical quality of the auditorium is also in need of renovation said Technical Director Alan Williamson.
Though serious cuts were made to the university's budget, the Jarman renovation was unaffected due to the timetable of the project. This project is not mentioned in the new Campus Master Plan. The plans for renovation were set in motion several years ago and approved back in 2002. Also, the university is strictly using state funds for the project. Wood stated, "As with most projects right now, we were fortunate to get a really good bid which was lower than expected." That bid for the construction portion of the project was $3.87 million and will be covered by the state. An additional $1.5 million was appropriated by the Commonwealth of Virginia's General Assembly for equipment and furnishings. These numbers do not include architect or engineering fees.
Actual construction on the building began with the abatement, or removal, of asbestos on Sept. 11. This timeframe is created by the window between the 2009 and 2010 Convocations. Woods said, "We feel really good about the schedule because of the familiarity with contractor and we know that he has the ability to perform and meet schedules." Contractor C. L. Lewis is the same company that completed the Blackwell Hall Phase II project.
The scope of the renovation is extensive, with major upgrades being made to the building. The front façade will have expanded glass panels to allow more light into the lobby. A new rear façade will be added that will mimic the pilasters on the front without adding to the footprint of the building. Previously, Jarman measured 26,550 square feet, but with the addition of an annex to house mechanical equipment, it will expand to 27, 600 square feet. The most noticeable exterior advancement will be the addition of a bus loop where the building faces High Street. This loop will allow for a safer area for patrons to be dropped off. The front entrance will also feature improved wheelchair ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as a larger porch allowing for attendees to congregate before an event. Changes to the exterior will also include the replacement of all windows and the addition of new brick walkways, which will link up with existing walkways on Wheeler Lawn.
The interior will see even more changes in design. Starting at the entrance, the lobby will be opened up and will be much brighter with more light coming in through the expanded front windows. Larger vestibules are being added to eliminate background noise in the auditorium that will come from the lobby. "The auditorium is going to have a much warmer ambience," said Wood, adding that, "This auditorium will have a totally different feel from the old Jarman." Design features include a yellow-cream color for the walls with tan carpeting, in addition to sconce lighting on the walls and red accents that will compliment refurbished seats. In order to cut down on costs and ensure seating arrangements remain the same, all 1,065 seats are shedding their rough blue upholstery and being replaced with a much softer, gold-colored fabric. Junior Dan Fary recalled his experiences in Jarman: "It was always so dark in there and I hated being cramped in those itchy seats. I'm glad it's being redone."
An elevator will also be added in the rear of the building and the bathrooms will be expanded to accommodate people with disabilities. It is also important to note the builders are using more "green" options and working for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. This involves scoring 50 or more points that reflect the project's potential environmental impacts.
Many notable events have been held in Jarman over the years such as Miss Longwood and LipSync. Williamson stated, "New Lancer Days events were times when the auditorium was filled beyond capacity." Everyone that has been a Longwood freshman can recall crowding into the auditorium with their Longwood Seminar (LSEM) group to listen to faculty and upperclassmen. Local dance recitals and Children's Theater shows have also been staged in Jarman. Longwood's Theatre Department moved to the New Communications and Theatre building this year, but Jarman was the main stage that has been used previously. Williamson cited audio and video issues as well as a "lack of intimacy," due to the distance of the audience from the stage as drawbacks of the old auditorium.
All substantial construction is slated for completion by Aug. 1, 2010 with a comfortable buffer left between then and Convocation in September. Wood said, "Jarman is a key building on campus for assembly use. We are getting by right now by using Blackwell, but we do not have any other auditorium space that seats that many people so it's a very much needed building."
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