Local officials and government employees gathered outside the
Veterans Memorial Building Thursday, one of several groups to tour
the building last week as its renovation nears completion.
The participants, most of them unaccustomed to the gritty
ambiance of construction labor, each wore mandatory hard hats and
walked with construction manager Franz Seidelhuber to the courtyard
at the building’s front
– the first of many stops on the hour-long walk.
Local officials and government employees gathered outside the Veterans Memorial Building Thursday, one of several groups to tour the building last week as its renovation nears completion.
The participants, most of them unaccustomed to the gritty ambiance of construction labor, each wore mandatory hard hats and walked with construction manager Franz Seidelhuber to the courtyard at the building’s front – the first of many stops on the hour-long walk.
Crews have entered the final stages of construction that began in August 2002. The project, which will have a final estimated cost of $4.4 million, is scheduled for completion by May 22 for the “Spotlight on Hollister” trade show and job fair.
The Veterans Memorial Building was built in 1927, and Hollister officials decided in 2000 to perform renovations when its ownership transferred from San Benito County to the City of Hollister. Since then, officials have anxiously awaited the project’s soon-to-be finality.
The group filed in through side exit doors, which were added in the renovations for additional accessibility, and walked into a dark hallway smelling of fresh paint and over a scattering of rocky rubble and dirt.
The Hollister Recreation Division, led by Recreation Services Manager Robert Ornelas, has responsibility for private bookings of the venue. Ornelas, Seidelhuber and Architect David Huboi led the pack, and each offered insightful anecdotes about the building’s construction and history.
“We wanted to retain the historical look but also have all the modern means,” Ornelas said.
Seidelhuber alluded to recently installed vinyl windows, which were designed to closely replicate those of the original structure.
“We tried to make all the wall texturing consistent with the 1927 era,” he added.
The group walked through the dressing rooms to the stage, where Seidelhuber said they could “see what the actors see.” From the elevated view, it was apparent the main hall had drastically changed during the past couple of months.
Once a dust cloud of supplies and hard-hatted construction workers, crews had recently painted the walls and ceiling and cleared out much of the scattered materials. The old ceiling, besieged with asbestos, had been torn out, replaced and painted over.
Huboi pointed out a uniform pile of wood toward the opposite end of the main hall, which will soon be installed as hardwood flooring. He said a “new acoustic material” will improve sound during shows.
After a brief showing of the kitchen and bar – an area to accommodate the “full banquet facilities” – the tour moved to the second floor. That portion included conference rooms, which Ornelas said will be equipped with Ethernet, phone and fax connections.
Also upstairs, offices will house operations for local branches of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, and a lobby will be decorated with work from local artists.
As the group walked downstairs for one last look from the main hall, Ornelas remarked, “For all of you wondering if the disco ball is going to be back, it’s going to be back.”
“We do want this to be a performing arts venue in the future,” Seidelhuber added. “We’re working on building a design for the best of the best.”
All those taking tours reacted positively to the experience, Huboi and Ornelas said.
“They’ve done a fabulous job,” City Clerk Geri Johnson said. “I’m so glad the City Council decided it was a building that should be saved.”
“I’m very impressed,” Supervisor Pat Loe said. “They’re doing a great job. It’s going to be a real asset to the community.”
Huboi said the project he and others have labored over for the past two years will be “something to behold.”
“We’ve all been working together on this, and I want us all to feel a part of it,” he said. “I can’t wait to give back the building to the community.”
