John R. Emens Auditorium will be getting its first major renovation since it opened in 1964.
The Board of Trustees approved the renovation of the lobby to give it more queuing room and to make it safer and roomier.
“There has not been major renovations to the building, and it appears it’s just time," said Bernie Hannon, vice president for business affairs and treasurer.
Renovations will also be done on the second floor to add a hospitality suite so more events can be hosted. Additionally, more vendor space will be added throughout the building.
The total cost is expected to be $5 million, Hannon said. $1.5 million of that will come from money already raised by the University Foundation, and another million dollars comes from the reserve fund set aside by former President Jo Ann Gora and Randy Howard, former vice president for business affairs.
Hannon proposed to add another $2.5 million from the reserve fund to pay for the rest of the project, and the board approved it.
While the timeline isn't finalized yet, Hannon said for now the renovation is planned to start during Summer 2016. It will take 12 months to complete.
Smaller renovations have been made throughout the years to the auditorium.
In 2007, a renovation added more than 3,000 new seats, a refinished concrete floor and a new audio system, according to previous reporting by the Daily News, and in 2011, the loading dock was renovated.
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