After the renovations, the University will be able to host events that would otherwise not be possible because of Memorial Hall's cramped conditions, said Amy Brannock, director of Arts Carolina.
"It will be a better experience for the audience and the performers," she said.
Construction will begin May 30 and will last 18 to 24 months, said Priscilla Bratcher, director of principal gifts for the University's Office of Development.
The building has undergone no significant renovations since its reconstruction in 1931, but it is now set for a total overhaul. "The audience will be incredibly more comfortable," Bratcher said."There will be more restrooms, which are totally inadequate now, and elevators so you don't have to walk up those slippery marble stairs."
The building also will get a larger stage, new seats, air conditioning, dressing rooms and storage space. "The quality of acoustics and the patron experience will be much improved," Bratcher said.
Bratcher said the majority of the renovations will take place inside the building, including the addition of lobbies on either side of the stage. "The architects have designed (the new additions) to really blend in with the way it looks now," she said. "From the outside it will just look like a slightly wider building."
The renovations will cost $15 million, with $1 million coming from state planning grants, $9 million from the $3.1 billion higher education bond referendum and $5 million from private gifts. Bratcher said the University is still seeking $650,000 from private donors.
She said local restaurants are helping the fund-raising campaign. For $5,000, participants can purchase nameplates on seats at the restaurants, with the proceeds going to the Memorial Hall renovations.
Participating restaurants include Il Palio, Carolina Crossroads, Spanky's Restaurant, The Grill at Glen Lennox, and Four Eleven West.
