After more than a year of work, Genesis Theatre has re-opened to the public.
The community theatre, operated by the Delta School District, has undergone an extensive renovation as part of the $17.6 million seismic upgrade at Delta Secondary.
District director of facilities and planning Frank Geyer said there were three main components of the seismic upgrade - the theatre, the shops area and the central core of the school.
"We had to do foundation work that connected all three. The theatre was certainly a significant part of the overall project," he said.
Geyer said construction crews had to blow out the first four or five rows of seats to get underneath to connect the piles.
The renovated theatre features a new stage floor as well as new seating, paint and carpeting. The house lighting was upgraded and the lobby has polished concrete floors and countertops.
"The seats were 50 years older than the building because they came out of the old Paramount Theatre in New Westminster," said Geyer. "While the seismic program has some tight guidelines to what you can and can't do, we think we have leveraged as much as we could to basically give that 30-year-old facility a bit of a facelift. People will notice a huge difference."
Located at 5005-45th Ave. in Ladner, the 400-plus-seat Genesis Theatre has provided a venue for concerts, dance recitals, plays, lectures and large presentations. In recent years it has hosted performances by Jim Byrnes, Harry Manx, Valdy and a range of local dance troupes.
Ray Weremczuk, district manager for Continuing Education and facilities rentals, said many community groups have expressed how excited they are the theatre has reopened.
"December will be a big month and we already have lots of bookings well into 2017," Weremczuk said. "I know groups had to find different spaces and that is a bit of a challenge here in South Delta, so I know some people were anxious in the months leading up to us re-opening. I think there certainly is enthusiasm that the theatre is now reopening and people are looking forward to seeing it first-hand."
The school district is planning a formal grand re-opening sometime in the spring.
