[StBernard] Grand Opening of the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center Auditorium held

[Westley Annis]

Grand Opening of the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center Auditorium held

New auditorium to seat nearly 3,000 boasts state of the art technology

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. and St. Bernard Parish
Council members along with FEMA and a host of local officials celebrated an
important Recovery and Growth milestone in St. Bernard Parish with the Grand
Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center
Auditorium Saturday, May 8 with a ribbon cutting and reception.

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr., Mark Landry, Acting
Director of FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office and St. Bernard
Parish Recovery Director Mike Dorris Jr., thanked all of the officials who
had a hand in the renovation of the auditorium. The opening means St.
Bernard now has a new state-of-the-art three-story 54,000-square-foot
entertainment/rental venue in addition to the 10,000 square feet of open
ballroom space in the adjacent Grand Ballroom that reopened in August of
2008 and has successfully hosted hundreds of events. The approximate $7
million renovation of the auditorium originally constructed in 1965 allows
the parish to offer a venue with a seating capacity of nearly 3,000 with all
the latest features in audio-visual capabilities for producing memorable
events.

 

 "The culmination of this work, we hope, is something that will be enjoyed
by our residents and citizens around the area for many years to come,"
President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. said. 

 

As he normally does, Taffaro thanked FEMA for its huge supportive role in
the parish's recovery.

"We're closing in on the 1 billion dollar mark on our FEMA projects,"
Taffaro said. He also thanked the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness, the federal delegates as well as the state
officials, including state Rep. Reed Henderson, who attended the event, who
are always "willing at a moment's notice to go to bat to give the project a
nudge" when it is needed. 

 

Of all the federal, state and local officials and contractors who had a role
in the auditorium's $7 million renovation, Taffaro especially honored Rick
Stierwald, the resident inspector from the St. Bernard Public Works
Department who pushed through all obstacles to make sure the building was
complete in time for the May graduations of Chalmette High School and Nunez
Community College and numerous dance revues scheduled in the early summer.

 

"This would not be here ready today if it were not for Rick's dedication,"
President Taffaro said. He presented Stierwald with a plaque that said St.
Bernard Parish "appreciates Rick Stierwald for his dedication, persistence
and professionalism in the recovery and growth of St.  Bernard Parish: The
house that Rick helped re-build - Fred Sigur Civic Center May 2010."

 

Mark Landry, Acting Director of FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery
Office, said he is proud that his agency can have such a critical role in
helping the parish and he thanked several of his staff including Mike
Simpson, Jeremy Rose and Amy Webbeking.

 

"Your parish president looks tired," Landry said of President Taffaro who
has been spending countless hours at the Breton Sound Marina, coordinating
efforts to protect the parish's coastline from the oil spill. "That's what
happens when you are a leader who cares about what you are doing. It is a
real challenge. St.  Bernard probably leads the nation in its recovery
efforts. This parish was hit like no other place in the country" by Katrina.
Landry said he expects victims of the recent floods in Tennessee will be
calling on St. Bernard officials for advice in how to handle a successful
recovery.

 

"My hat is off to you," Landry said. "You have a great facility. Craig
pushes us hard. It is a challenge, and we like to think we are up to the
challenge."

 

Recovery Director Mike Dorris Jr. said he needed to thank everyone who
helped.

 

"I am so excited to be a part of this and thrilled to be able to get this
building back to its original state ...To make this dream a reality 

 

Taffaro and Dorris thanked Rodney Dionisio, an architect who worked on the
project; Buster Lyons, project manager for CDM; and Jimmy Wehrlin, Senior
Project Manager for Gibbs Construction.

 

Dorris specifically thanked Joanna Ragas, his Executive Assistant, and
Melissa Jurisich, who is the Civic Center Executive Director.

 

He also thanked Steve Brice of GOSHEP, Fire Chief Thomas Stone, Melissia
O'Neil in the Recreation Department, Allison Davis of CDM and Dennis Tauzin
of CDM. 

 

"This has been a group effort. This is the fruit of all that hard work,"
Dorris said. 

 

Taffaro recognized Fred Sigur Jr. and his family for their contributions to
the facility that is named for his father, and he said that Jurisich will be
working to book theatre-style events given the facility's new amenities.

 

Taffaro thanked local music teacher Ed Barratt for the jazz band
entertainment he provided at the event and mentioned that his music has been
published on a CD that can be bought at his Chalmette store Bayou Music.

 

In addition to the May graduations, several events are already planned for
the auditorium, including a Chubby Checker concert this summer and seven
dance revues to be held in with the first one on June 12 for the 250-student
Dance Connection, owned by Christie Sercovich and Theresa Mowers Dysart.

 

To book events, please call Kristin Hartenstein, Civic Center Account
Executive/Group Sales at 504-278-1508.

 

Details on the Auditorium include: 

*	Originally constructed in 1965 and is about 45 years old
*	Estimated renovation cost approximately $7 million
*	Approximately 52,400+ total square feet (approximately 27,600 square
feet on the first  floor, 14,180 square feet  on the second floor and 10,650
square feet  on the third floor)
*	Seating capacity of nearly 3,000 
*	The three levels have various ancillary spaces behind the seating
areas for men and women restroom facilities, concession areas on the first
and second levels only, administrative office and/or storage space, and
pre-function congregation areas.
*	Backstage area contains dressing rooms, showers, prop storage,
wardrobe, and toilet rooms for actors/performers
*	Stage area contains a fly gallery above the stage to accommodate
stage lighting and background scenery

 

Renovated features include, but not limited to:

*	Audio and video systems, including sound system and speakers, video
projector and screen. The screen that descends from the stage's ceiling is a
seamless 18-foot by 10.125-foot, 16:9 screen.
*	Lighting systems, including primary lighting, theatrical lighting,
and spot lights
*	Theatrical rigging and stage curtain system
*	Restroom facilities
*	Concession areas
*	Ticket office
*	Administrative offices
*	Storage rooms/areas
*	Elevator and handicap ramps, including portable stage lift
*	Door and hardware
*	Curtain wall system on the main level only
*	Plumbing system and fixtures 
*	Electrical system components 
*	HVAC system / Boilers
*	Emergency/life safety systems, including fire protection devices,
smoke exhaust system and emergency generator

 

 

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