Civic Center renovations may include new looks
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

CHANGES IN THE WORKS: The El Campo Civic Center redesign is still in the works. Major proposed changes are outlined in red. RWS Architect Graphic

The El Campo Civic Center could have a completely new look before the end of the year as City Council continues its debate on building renovations.

Council has allocated $1 million to renovate the Civic Center, and will close the building August-through- October of this year for the project.

How much work will be done has yet to be decided, however.

Council discussed current Civic Center renovation plans Thursday, but made no firm decisions. Instead, Council decided it would hold an additional workshop at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25 at the Civic Center to do a walk-through and further debate the issue.

While new roofing, air-conditioning and flooring have been accepted, other more cosmetic issues are still under debate.

The 41,170 square-foot building opened as a K-Mart in 1979 and still has the same roof and air-conditioning system.

The air-conditioning revamp will eliminate the infamous circle air drops in the main hall ceiling which can produce frigid conditions directly underneath while barely cooling the entire room.

Restroom improvements including the elimination of Meeting Room C in favor of additional women's stalls near the front of the building are in the accepted portion of the plans. Council is still debating whether other restrooms need a facelift or if a "family" restroom should be added.

Current drawings also call for a redesign of the entrance from the facade to the creation of a vestibule in front of the lobby.

The first draft of the facade changed was nixed when Councilwoman Gloria Harris said it looked too much like the new middle school. A new design has not been submitted.

The current lobby redesign calls for the elimination of the northside display case in favor of the creation of a ticketing booth as well as flooring.

More doors have also been worked into the design to allow the building to be compartmentalized when only one section is in use.

Inside the main hall, two possible ways of further dividing the room are being examined as well as a larger and more rounded stage and a dance floor.

Two columns will be added to help support a roof beam.

RWS Architect Malcolm Gaus presented the possible changes Thursday, but said pricing couldn't be estimated until Council provided a better idea of what it wants to see in the Civic Center.

Whatever happens, it will have to take place in a 90-day time frame to coincide with the scheduled building closure.

The Civic Center and the El Campo Museum of Natural History will be closed August through October (please see related story).