Taproot Theatre Announces Renovation

Taproot Theatre Company moves closer to doubling its footprint and expanding its presence in the growing Greenwood arts district as it takes delivery of prefabricated modular building units which will house a black box theatre, café, scene shop, dressing rooms, and office space.

The arrival of the building components, constructed by Method Prefab, should cause quite a stir as they are delivered in 21 modular units by semi-truck over the course of three days beginning on April 1st, for placement on the adjacent site of the former Eleanor Roosevelt Building, which burned down in October 2009. The Taproot team opted for modular construction as a way to expand into available space more quickly and cost effectively. Final outside finish details will unite the new modular components with the existing theatre building by Buchanan, who will be celebrating their 1,000th job with the project.

Designed by The Miller Hull Partnership, the targeted LEED Silver building renovation and expansion takes design and palette cues from the early 1900's era neighborhood setting along with an eye for improved energy efficiency, adding public green space in a congested traffic corridor and the use of environmentally friendly materials.

Taproot's Producing Artistic Director, Scott Nolte says, "The choice to build modular has significantly reduced the building's impact to the environment and disruption to the neighborhood while providing considerable savings in both costs and time."

When complete, the expanded theatre will feature a new glassed-in lobby and café opening outward to the sidewalk for an extended entry area with benches and plantings adding transparency to inside activities, as well as life and energy to the adjacent area. Completion of the project is slated for autumn of 2013.