The Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta Campus will undergo renovations beginning in June, effectively shutting down the theatre for at least one year.
“The exact timing for construction is still being determined,” Assistant Vice President of Facilities John Anderson said. “We hope that it will not take that long, and will compress the construction schedule as much as we can to help minimize the disruption.”
The estimate, however, is that the renovations will begin sometime in June of this year and will last around 12 months, with some sources saying it may take even longer. The total cost has yet to be determined.
“Since the design is still underway, we don’t have any contractor pricing or a very good idea of the total cost yet,” Anderson said, though he confirmed that it will be funded by the university and will not pull from or affect student fees.
According to Anderson, the building is being renovated for several reasons, including safety concerns.
“A recent inspection conducted by the KSU Environmental Health and Safety Department found that this theatre did not meet a number of industry standards for safety and functionality,” he said in an email.
The construction will address these concerns, but there are also other motivations for the building project.
“The goal is to get the theatre to where it functions well for dance events,” Anderson said.
The dance department is heavily involved in the renovation process, mostly in a consultation capacity. According to Ivan Pulinkala, the chair of the dance department, this is because it houses the necessary expertise and knowledge of current industry operational and safety standards.
“The Marietta Campus Theatre has been used in the past primarily for dance rentals to local dance groups,” Pulinkala said, pointing to this as a strong motivator. “The renovation project will ensure that the space continues to serve this purpose, while being available for other groups to use for appropriate events.”
He also adds that the department does not have a home for its performances., pointing out that it is the theatre department that allows it to utilize the Stillwell Theatre on the Kennesaw campus.
“However, this space is not suited for dance,” Pulinkala said.
After the renovations are complete, the department will also play a role in the management of the facility.
“[It will] oversee the future operations of this theatre, and ensure that appropriate staff are hired and trained to provide technical support, safety and maintenance of the facility and its equipment,” Pulinkala said.
Despite the apparent focus on one department, Anderson is optimistic that the renovations will improve the experience of more than just dance majors.
“All KSU students can anticipate a significant upgrade in the functionality and aesthetics of the space,” he said.
Jennifer Tesch, the coordinator of student center operations, confirmed the dance department’s involvement. In regards to recent rumors about student organizations loosing access to the building, she reassured those concerned that they are unfounded.
“The Wilson Student Center is definitely open for reservations for use by students, student organizations, departments, outside entities that want to contract the space and that will continue,” she said.
For the duration of the construction, she confirms that all services offered in the building will remain open and accessible, including card services, counseling and psychological services, and others.
According to Student Government Association President Aaron Roberson, SGA does not have an official stance on the matter, though he added that he is “happy that this space is being renovated.” He explained that they have someone working with the university to learn more about the intentions for the theatre after renovations.
“As more information is released or discussed, SGA will make sure that students are informed of those decisions made,” Roberson said in an email.
