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HOUSTON'S ICONIC ALLEY THEATRE GETS MAJOR RENOVATION
Houston's much revered Alley Theatre is being completely renovated and modernized - thanks in part to Marek Houston. The 46-ye a r old Alley Theatre in Downtown Houston is going through a major and complex renovation, with 75,000 sf under construction. Much of the main areas, from the lobby to the top floor
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to the Hubbard Stage have been virtually gutted, leaving just the iconic architectural features intact. These include the lobby's box office and the grand staircase. The Hubbard Stage, a "thrust stage" that extends into the audience, has had rtiPi. · , all i t s s e a t i n g removed, anc\, a new t r ap floor poured. The roof has been removed in order to make room for a four story fly loft to suspend scenery ' a n d o t h e r components above the stage. Behind the scenes there are extensive other
renovations getting underway, that include the lowest basement level that was flooded by Tropical Storm Allison in 200 I. The basement will be converted into dressing rooms and facilities for the performers. Theaters involve a lot of "behind the s cenes" technology and equipment essential to making live performances vibrant and exciting. Typically old theaters are torn down and rebuilt, since this is generally an easier option of bringing them u p t o mo dern s t a n d a r d s , s o it i s encouraging to see this landmark structure preserved, updated and restored. Marek Houston has teamed up with General Contractor Bellows and Architects Studio Red to work on the project -and not for the first time. All three players have extensive previous experience working on these highly complicated theater renovations, where the work is characterized by high elevations and wide spans, making previous experience, a track-record and safety key to success. Marek will be responsible for the drywall and paint, under the careful direction of Drywall Supervisor Allan Graham and Paint Supervisor Eric Krolczyk.
A view of the newly expanded Margaret Alkek Williams Terrace level and the original distinctive triangular skylight, which will be retained.