This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme B. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme B. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

A renovated Centennial Hall could look like one of these options

Architects share four possibilities for the building’s future

A final decision is still a way off, but MRV Architects drew up four design options for Centennial Hall renovations.

The Juneau architecture firm was contracted for about $50,000 by the City and Borough of Juneau to come up with possible designs for an improved version of the convention center and event venue.

Paul Voelckers, MRV Architects president and architect, shared design schemes ahead of a Thursday night public meeting detailing the same information.

Voelckers said he hopes to hear back by mid next week from a steering committee, the public and the city to determine which vision for a renovated Centennial Hall the firm should spend the next few weeks fleshing out.

“By June 20, we’re going to be done with further graphic development for whatever direction seems most promising,” he said. “It’s not going to be as simple as picking Scheme A, B, C or D. There’s may be some hybridization between these options.”

All options share one major similarity: A connection to the proposed New Juneau Arts & Culture Center project. Centennial Hall and the nearby JACC are both managed by Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, and both buildings are utilized during major events such as Public Market or Alaska Folk Festival.

Voelckers said none of the options would result in alterations to the proposed New JACC plan.

[Centennial Hall’s needs move into focus]

“But there’s a lot of flexibility for how it connects and interacts with Centennial Hall,” Voelckers said. “All these schemes show some type of very active connection, so they can function in tandem. They already function in tandem, they just don’t do it very well.”

All the options also include street improvements and more orderly parking along West Third Avenue and at least some new space added to Centennial Hall.

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme A. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme A. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

Scheme A includes shared entry and shared parking between two separate buildings, Voelckers said. Scheme B eliminates that space and gives the buildings in favor of an “enhanced entry,” and the finished product would result in a JACC and Centennial Hall that look like a single complex.

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme C. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme C. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

“Scheme C, it preserves a lot of the flow of Centennial, where it still has an independent north entry and an independent south entry and then just a nice lateral link to the JACC, but it’s probably the least elaborated of the links between them,” Voelckers said.

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme B. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme B. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

Those three options would add about 9,000 square feet of space to Centennial Hall —about a 25-percent increase —and cost about $21 million, according to summary of the design option study.

Scheme D is the most different of the options.

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme D. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

This image shows one possibility for a renovated Centennial Hall. It is titled Scheme D. (Courtesy Photo | MRV Architects)

It adds about 800 square feet to Centennial Hall, its link to the JACC would be a covered walkway and its estimated cost is $17.25 million.

Voelckers said the reason there is only a $4.75 million difference between schemes is because all the options include rebuilding mechanical and electrical systems.

“Then it just becomes an increment addition, which really isn’t a big deal,” he said.

What the people said

MRV Architects also compiled the results of a questionnaire that drew hundreds of responses.

[Architects ask public what they want out of a new Centennial Hall]

Voelckers said it included responses from a public meeting held earlier this month as well as responses submitted electronically.

He acknowledged respondents were self-selected and consisted almost entirely of Juneau residents, but said the information was still interesting and something architects considered.

In general people — 169 positive comments in total — identified Centennial Hall’s location as its biggest strength. The next closest quality was the building’s size with 44 commenting on it as a positive attribute.

Centennial Hall’s largest weakness was identified as its sound and audio visual systems — 70 percent of people ranked it as one of the top three shortcomings that most needs to be addressed.

“That’s because we’ve all borne the slings and arrows of trying to give a presentation there,” Voelckers said. “The systems are just outdated.”


• Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 3

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Nesbett Courthouse in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 7, 2024. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
After controversial correspondence school decision, Anchorage judge faces voters in election

Adolf Zeman is one of 19 judges on Alaska’s ballots, but he’s the only one with a campaign against him.

The outcome of the struggle for control of both the House and Senate will have sweeping implications for the country’s future. Shown is the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 9, 2024. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
Will control of Congress shift? The results hinge on a handful of states and races

Narrow Republican Senate majority would allow Murkowski to wield outsized influence, expert says.

A sign on Egan Drive reminds motorists at midday Friday a lower seasonal speed limit is in effect in an attempt to reduce collisions at the Fred Meyer intersection. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Reduced 45 mph speed limit goes into effect on Egan Drive in vicinity of Fred Meyer intersection

Change in effect until Jan. 31 intended to improve safety; JPD reports normal number of traffic stops.

People voting ahead of Election Day line up inside the Mendenhall Mall annex on Friday, Oct. 25. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Juneau an afterthought for candidates ahead of Tuesday’s election, but early voting at a record pace

Toss-up U.S. House race, minimum wage increase, repeal of ranked choice voting on ballot.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Tesla Cox (left) explains the damage done to her home and possessions by record flooding Aug. 6 to a delegation of municipal, tribal and federal officials on Aug. 11. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a memorandum of agreement with the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska for public safety issues such as emergency response, plus a similar agreement involving solid waste operations.
City leaders, Tlingit and Haida considering operational pacts for public safety, solid waste

Assembly members Monday will also discuss flood barriers, short-term rentals, homeless.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Tongass National Forest near Sitka on Oct. 10, 2024. The remains of a hunter who the authorities believe was fatally mauled by a bear were recovered on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, from a remote region in Alaska where such attacks are rare. (Christopher Miller/The New York Times)
Deer hunter is killed in apparent bear attack near Sitka, authorities say

The remains of a hunter who authorities believe was fatally mauled by… Continue reading

Most Read