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ALL'S QUIET ON THE JONES HALL FRONT THIS SUMMER
Performance Hall 'Dark' For 3 Months To Complete Facility Upgrades
June 9, 2003 -- Two years ago today, Jones Hall was closed for the summer after Tropical Storm Allison floodwater swamped the basement of the building, destroying administrative offices and wreaking facility-wide damage to infrastructure.
Jones Hall is again closed, only this summer it is a planned shutdown to allow for major maintenance work that would be impossible to stage amid performances and other events. The building officially went "dark" on May 29 and will remain so through August 31.
Workers are undertaking mechanical and electrical projects throughout the building and renovating the acoustical ceiling above the auditorium seats.
"We intentionally close Jones Hall approximately every five years to perform major maintenance and renovations that cannot otherwise take place," said Dawn Ullrich, director of the Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department, which operates and maintains Jones Hall.
"The nature of the work is such that our contractors cannot take down their equipment at the end of the day. Therefore, we close the building for three months and schedule a wide range of renovations. It's part of our planning process."
Ullrich added that work continues on the building exterior to examine nearly 4,500 marble panels that are original to the building, which opened in 1966. Work to replace or repair the panels is scheduled to be complete in May 2004 and scaffolding will be removed as contractors work their way around the building perimeter.
The next event at Jones Hall is set for September 3, when Houston Symphony performs.
For Jones Hall and other Theatre District events, click the Calendar of Events link from www.houstontx.gov.
