Renovations give theater more spacious feel, ambience
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The Sgt. Smith Theater, here, received a $600,000 Department of the Army facelift.
The Exchange is providing an additional $160,000 for upgrades, currently in progress.
The theater closed for renovations July 18, 2011, and reopened Jan. 25.
The lobby has a new coat of paint, the birthday party room's walls have been stripped of outdated carpeting, walls were repainted and the stage received a new hardwood floor to entice more A-list entertainment.
The first half of the theater's overhauls were completed by General Trades and Services, Inc.; Bauske Environmental; Narito Sheetmetal and Mechanical Corp.; the Directorate or Public Works, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, oversaw the contract. The Exchange Facilities Maintenance Office is completing the second phase of the renovation.
"The stage renovation will allow more variety of shows and support of community events," said Lori Maggard, food court manager, Hawaii-Exchange.
More spacious and modern seating were installed in the lower auditorium. While the seating capacity itself decreased from 1,500 to 1,280, knee and leg space increased.
"We tried to create a more comfortable and spacious moving-going experience for our patrons," said Mike Carboni, assistant food court manager, Hawaii-Exchange. "The sound and picture quality will greatly improve once all of our renovations are completed later this year."
Other upgrades to the auditorium include new carpeting and the installation of light emitting diode floor lights, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant seating.
The Exchange, the entity that operates the theater, is contributing to the venue's modernization still in progress. Upgrades include new menu boards at the snack stand, a new screen, new advertising boxes outside the building, new amplifiers for the sound system and a new digital projector.
The concession stand was also upgraded and reconfigured to serve patrons more quickly and efficiently, Carboni said.
Upgrades to the Dolby Digital Sound System will be effective mid-March, according to Maggard. This upgrade is in preparation for the digital projection system due in fiscal year 2013.
"We hope to see you at the movies," Carboni added.
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