July 08, 2005

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Publication Date: Friday, July 08, 2005

Campaign set to fund Firehouse Theater, art gallery

An architecturally-stunning design is under consideration to convert the old Railroad Avenue firehouse into a downtown performing arts theater and public art gallery.

The project, which could cost nearly $10 million, would combine new construction with a major renovation of the old 1920 brick firehouse, which was built with bricks actually made in Pleasanton. Firefighters from Station 4 who have worked out of the firehouse will move later this summer into a new fire station nearing completion on Bernal Avenue near Valley Avenue.

City Manager Nelson Fialho said the City Council has appropriated $6 million in taxpayer funds toward the Firehouse Theater & Art Gallery project. The Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation has launched a fundraising effort to provide an additional $3.5 million from corporate and individual contributors that will be needed before construction work can begin.

Fialho said the firehouse theater is part of a series of improvements planned in the downtown business district. Tied closely to the firehouse project are plans to expand and improve Lions Wayside Community Park, extending it to connect to the firehouse.

"The creek that goes through the park will be covered up so that we'll have a grass area from First Street to the firehouse theater," Fialho said. "I think it will create a nice synergy for downtown, attracting people to go there for exhibits and presentations and then afterwards to go downtown to shop and dine."

Civic Arts Manager Andy Jorgensen said the idea to convert the old fire station into a black box theater and art gallery originated with the Downtown Parks and Trails task force, a group later merged into a larger task force that developed the Downtown Specific Plan. The recommendation gained impetus with the joint powers agreement that formed the combined Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department. A new fire department headquarters building was constructed on Bernal and Nevada Street, moving out of the Railroad Avenue facility, and then it was decided to relocate Station 4.

"Because of these moves, the task force recommended that the historic firehouse be renovated as a facility to support the arts," Jorgensen said. "The city doesn't have a municipal art gallery, so it was decided this would be a good place to build one. At the same time, we wanted a small theater that would complement the Amador Theater, with flexible seating so that we can use it for children's theater, for lectures, chamber music and even art films."

The Berkeley firm ELS Architecture and Urban Design has been commissioned to develop plans for the new theater and gallery. Designers have been working with Jorgensen and representatives of Pleasanton's theater and fine arts community, the Cultural Arts Council, Pleasanton Downtown Association and Chamber of Commerce.

The new facility would include an open, curved lobby with sweeping views of Lions Wayside Park and the Ridgeland, several classrooms for art classes and lectures, a 240-seat theater with added seating on a balcony and a green room where actors can wait before going on stage.

A special feature would be adjustable seating that would allow the platform floor to be changed so that children could actually move close to the stage and sit on cushions for special productions.

"This is a very powerful experience for children," Jorgensen said. "One of the things that actors really like about doing children's theater is to have the audience up close, so close, in fact, that they can actually reach out and touch the children while performing."

Jorgensen said the original old firehouse will be retained with new construction planned to replace additions to the structure that were made in the 1960s.

"The task force considers it very important to maintain the theme of the old firehouse," Jorgensen said. "We'll even have display areas to show firehouse memorabilia while also using a modern curved lobby area to show the works of Pleasanton artists."

The fundraising campaign is expected to move into action once the firehouse is empty and proposed designs can be displayed there. If funds can be raised as scheduled, work on the new the Firehouse Theater & Art Gallery could begin in two years. <<

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