December 2, 2021
It's been a very busy week at the theater. We've met with the terrazzo installers, North American Terrazzo, and given approval for the custom aggregate mix they made up for us based on the original. Our wall tile choice is finalized. We've received a color sample from Architectural Castings for the new quoins. VERY exciting!
I've also been working on a water issue that needs to be solved before we build new walls. We've had water infiltration issues for years in the corner of the theater behind the Hollywood blade sign. Now that we've taken down the 1965 walls we can see that there's water getting in between the surface mounted terracotta and the concrete walls to which it's attached. The big question is, where?
The inimitable Bruce Lee once said of water "Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it." and boy does it. So this week we had Pioneer Waterproofing out to do some water testing. That means spraying water at the building starting from the bottom and working up with the help of a big lift. Then we wait and see where it runs down. We're zeroing in on the issue and now it's time to get the roofers involved.
November 22, 2021
Newly installed pendant lights restore a glow to the lower façade. I'm struck by how much the lighting changes the character of the front entry, especially when seen as you drive up Sandy Blvd. It provides a grandeur that I didn't even realize was missing and now seems so obvious. Check it out next time you're approaching the theater.
November 11, 2021
Some days, taking care of an historic building is frustrating, tiring and a little overwhelming when you look at your to-do list. Other days are just pure joy when you discover details thought lost and now found.
November 10, 2021
Things are busy at the theater this morning!
November 4, 2021
There's plywood on the front walls and there's a lot more to come! The plywood that you see on the exterior of the theater today is covering areas where we did some investigative demolition. We needed to see and measure some openings in the VERY thick, poured in place, concrete walls. These were the sites of the original display case on the north side and a door into the manager's office or cloak room on the west wide. As part of our lower facade project we will be reinstalling display cases on both sides. This will return an element of symmetry to the overall design.