Web site keeps public informed on Riley Center

By Staff
OPERA HOUSE – An artist's conception of the renovated opera house, a PowerPoint presentation and a five-minute streaming video narrated by Sela Ward can be found at MSU-Meridian's Web site. Submitted Photo
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Aug. 15, 2002
Updates on the Grand Opera House and Marks-Rothenberg Building's transformation into the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center have been added to the Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus Web site.
The site includes an overview of the renovation and preservation projects, current activities, a PowerPoint presentation and a five-minute streaming video narrated by Sela Ward.
Dr. Bev. R. Norment, special assistant to the president of MSU, said the site will be updated periodically.
The Web site also has a timetable. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of next year, with the opening projected for late 2005.
Norment said the question he is most often asked is, "When will construction begin?"
Preliminary plans for the renovation include changes to comply with modern building codes.
Because there is no space in the opera house for enough restrooms to accommodate its 1,000-person capacity, Norment said the four floors in each building will connect with each other. This will make additional lobby space and restrooms in the Marks-Rothenberg Building available to opera house patrons.
He said abatement of lead-based paint and asbestos will begin soon. The buildings are expected to be cleaned out this fall. Selective demolition inside the buildings will follow.
Norment foresees street closings when the construction phase begins.
SEE IT ONLINE
To see how work on the opera house is going, go to MSU-Meridian's home page on the Internet at www.msstate.edu/meridian, then click on the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center.