Page 18 - Spring 2020 Digital inLEAGUE Volume 43 Number 02

No matter your resources, you must develop your
story so that you can work on engaging other
community and business leaders and asking for
advice and assistance on how to go about executing
a comprehensive development plan, which ultimately
will lead to individuals wanting to be a part of your
success by donating. Consulting with and possibly
recruiting the potential big donors in your community
can be a way to build your network and engage the
people who might ultimately not only give but also
inspire others to give.
Programming session at Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, TN | Photo courtesy Mills + Schnoering Architects
Share The Owner’s Perspective Identify the Project Team
Numa Saisselin, CEO of the historic Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Most capital projects, especially those involving
Florida, offers several lessons learned through design and comprehensive facilities planning, will require the
construction campaigns at the Florida Theatre and at his former services of an experienced architect, who leads the
location, the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Numa acknowledges that the pressures of leading a significant design team with responsibility for the overall design
project as an owner are immense. “Construction is monumental; of the project as well as coordinating the efforts of
it consumes your life,” he says. “Think of the worst, most stressful, engineering and other team consultants. In addition
most expensive day in your career. Now imagine that day goes to typical duties such as programming, building
on for months, maybe years. You need to be prepared.” design, code research and life safety compliance,
Part of that preparation involves what Numa and many other accessibility design, interior and exterior design and
theatre management professionals have learned by experience,
and that is to start early. “If you think you’re going to do work in finish selections, drawing coordination, specifications
five years, it’s not too early to start talking to professionals and development, and providing services during bidding
vendors now. Everything takes longer than you think,” Numa
says. He also advises consulting with local code and zoning and construction, the architect will provide overall
officials as soon as possible. “It’s just smart politics. Plus, they have design vision and serve as a project advocate.
experience, and might see things that the rest of you missed.” Most architects are comfortable with and welcome
Numa learned quickly during his first major restoration project speaking on behalf of their projects to stakeholders,
that there will be many professionals involved that he had never potential donors, city representatives, and other
considered. “You think you’re hiring an architect, but you’ll
also hire a roster of professionals that seems to grow day by influencers on the merits of the planned work, the
day without end: mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, reasons behind specific design solutions, and the
acousticians, theatrical designers, and more. You need them all.” complexity and cost of the project.
When discussing your internal expertise to manage your
project, Numa advises, “More than anyone else, you need an The typical project team consists of the owner, the
owner’s representative. You’ll have a construction manager or architect, and the contractor. Like the legs of a
a general contractor to get the job done, but you don’t have stool, all three need to provide support; otherwise,
enough experience in construction to supervise them. Plus, the
contractor’s interests will not always align with your interests.” we find ourselves on the floor. This model functions
The owner’s representative is someone you pay a fee to most critically during the construction process.
supervise the project on your behalf and advise you, Numa However, your organization might enlist the services
explains. “He or she will tell you when things make sense and of a contractor during design to provide estimating,
costs are reasonable and will protect your interests when they’re constructability reviews, and logistics planning.
not. Think of the owner’s rep like your venue’s technical director.
When a tour manager tells you that he/she needs 48 moving The owner is in charge and has the responsibility of
lights, it’s your technical director who can convince them that
in your venue, the same effect can be created with just 24 providing leadership on behalf of the organization
lighting instruments, thus saving you money. You may not have from project conception through construction.
the expertise to have the debate, but your technical director Many organizations find it advantageous to set up a
does. Similarly, if your owner’s representative does their job
right, they’ll save you more than you spend on their fee.” When steering or facilities committee charged with facility
considering candidates for owner’s representative, construction stewardship. In addition to planning for regular
manager, and/or general contractor, don’t be tempted to let a maintenance, the committee’s duties would likely
board member who is a construction professional be a volunteer.
“Unless they’re in an extraordinary position with a ton of free time include overseeing capital project planning, design,
on their hands, they won’t be able to give you enough time and and construction. This committee typically consists of
attention to be effective,” Numa cautions. board members and depending on the size of the
“Updating and upgrading and preserving your venue is committee or project, may employ a subcommittee
important,” he continues. “A theatre is not an historic house to consisting of staff, board members, and possibly
be preserved as a time capsule. George Washington didn’t
sleep there. These are venues we use, and they need to be volunteer professionals outside your organization who
maintained and improved, and should always be on the cutting might have relevant expertise and time to deal with
edge of technology to the extent possible. We would still be the specifics of a project. If your organization has
watching theatre in an outdoor stone amphitheater otherwise.
Don’t be afraid to make changes and be the best venue you little or no experience with capital project planning,
can to support your programming. In addition, patrons need design, and construction (or the capacity to take
to feel safe and comfortable, have reasonable access to on more managerial roles) you might also choose to
amenities, and most important, see the shows that interest them.
Otherwise, they will go somewhere else.” engage an owner’s representative to act as your eyes

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