The Board of the Chautauqua Institution voted today to proceed with an approximately $40M plan to demolish its historic Amphitheater(the Amp) and construct a new theater designed to mimic the original. The board cynically refers to the demolition as a renewal. They apparently have trouble with the English language in that “renewal” does not mean “demolition and replacement”. The contract for construction management will be awarded to Buffalo’s LPCiminelli.
The Board also approved the final design for the new Amp which they describe in their press release thus: “…a state-of-the-art facility that honors the look and feel of the original structure, a requirement Chautauquans emphasized throughout the four years of community input to the project.” In fact, the Board was actually defining the demolition and replacement as a “renovation” until just about a year and a half ago. They only corrected their description of the project after local press and activists pointed out that, you cannot “renovate” a building once you have demolished it. They spent last Spring and Summer selling the demolition project to the public while barely tolerating those who asked them to consider alternates.
The Board’s press release goes on to say: Construction will begin in early February and continue in the months prior to the 2016 Chautauqua season. Initial work will include site preparation, infrastructure development, caisson installation, groundwater diversion and partial Massey Organ underpinning. This work will require tree and bleacher removal and the removal of a substantial portion of the current back-of-house. Temporary facilities will be installed prior to the season start. Construction will pause for the 2016 season, then resume in the fall, followed by the grand opening of the renewed Amp for the start of Chautauqua’s 2017 season.
While they say demolition and construction will not start until February, they have in fact already begun the work. Several mature trees surrounding the Amp were cut down in the last few days. There will be programing held in the Amp next summer. But, if you missed last season you have already missed the Amp in its current form, as the plan calls for demolishing substantial portions of the structure through winter and spring.
In a statement made in the present tense the Board claims, that the yet-to-be built new Amp “harmonizes seamlessly with its setting”. While they may not have a command of the English language I am impressed with their ability to time travel.
This project to demolish a very important piece of American heritage is a travesty. The Board of Chautauqua Institution should be ashamed of this very short sighted decision.