<cilities plans to install a lift in Little Nourse Theater this summer, following renovations to the theater last summer.
The lift is slated to cost approximately $30,000, but pipes need to be moved in order to make room for the lift, which will bring the total cost to at least $55,000, according to Director of Disability Services Chris Dallager and Capital Project Manager for Facilities, John Mathews.
“The lift was paid for using funds set aside in the overall project budget. The project budget consisted of college funds, CSA funds, and a generous donation that was given to the college,” said Mathews.
According to Dallager, the donation was provided by the parent of a Carleton alum.
Part of the motivation for the renovations was to increase the accessibility to the theater.
“The staff, students, and architect discussing those changes were unanimous in agreement to create greater accessibility to the theater,” said Dallager.
Plans to install a lift in Nourse follow 2018 renovations to the Little Nourse Theater, which, according to Mathews, included a new accessibility ramp for stage and backstage access, renovations to stage and dressing rooms, updates to the control booth, a new bathroom, new house and stage lighting, a new sound system, new seating, and cosmetic upgrades.
While theater renovations took place in the summer of 2018, the lift won’t be ready until next summer.
“The lift is planned for completion summer 2019,” said Dallager.
“It was decided that the lift would go in this coming summer in an attempt to save money so that other parts of the renovation could be completed last summer,” said Theater Department Student Departmental Adviser Erin Gustafson.
With the lift and accessibility ramps installed, Little Nourse will be considered fully accessible.
The project comes amid conversations around accessibility on campus, but plans to install the lift were already in the works in capital planning for the 2018-19 fiscal year.