Convention Hall Team Decides on New Design Concept

CAPE MAY — The Convention Hall Project Team, an advisory committee to City Council, reached a consensus Thur., Aug. 13 on a design concept for a smaller, less expensive facility.
Known as Scheme 6, the design concept is a scaled down version of architect Martin Kimmel’s earlier design of a larger Convention Hall shrinking from a 32,000 square foot building to a 20,000 square foot facility. Project Team members voted 5-2 to approve Scheme 6 with two members voting for Scheme 4, a wider building with a partial second floor.
The design concept for Scheme 6 is for a one-story building with a side entrance lobby with space for either two retail stores or conference rooms. The design includes room for an administrative office and additional restrooms for the public and storage space. The auditorium measures 8,000 square feet.
It has a catering kitchen with direct access to the auditorium and a full size backstage area. The hall came be divided in half to host two events simultaneously.
Kimmel said it was the “biggest building” for the available budget. The city has a bond of $10.5 million of which an estimated $7.5 million is available for the actual construction of a new facility.
City Manager Bruce MacLeod said the city’s current Convention Hall auditorium, minus the stage area, measures 7,800 square feet. The current hall seats 780 patrons.
At issue, whether or not to preserve the neighboring Solarium. After much discussion, project team members Jack Wichterman and Dennis Crowley, who had steadfastly opposed demolition of the Solarium, agreed it was better a plan not to sacrifice space in a new Convention Hall just to save the Solarium.
Kimmel offered five other design concepts in a PowerPoint presentation:
• Scheme 1: a one story building that fits in the exact footprint of the current Convention Hall with an auditorium smaller than the old hall, not dividable for simultaneous events, a total of 12,240 square feet with no retail or community room space and no catering kitchen. The Solarium would not be demolished.
• Scheme 2: a two story hall of 20,000 square feet with a 7,000 square foot auditorium located on the second floor of the facility. It would require elevators, an auditorium that could not be divided, a minimal backstage area and no retail space. The plan includes a catering kitchen and restrooms on the first floor. It would claim deck area on either side of the old Convention Hall but not require using the space occupied by the Solarium.
• Scheme 3: a two story building extending towards Morrow’s Nut House and the Solarium but not claiming the Solarium. The building would have a lobby on the ocean side, and space for either retail or community meeting rooms. It would have a 7,400 square foot auditorium, smaller than the current hall with a minimal backstage. It would require elevators with the kitchen on the first floor.
• Scheme 4, favored by members Al Beale and Mike Whipple, a wider building with a partial second floor requiring demolition of the Solarium. The auditorium could be divided with a lobby offering a view of the ocean. There would be room for either retail or meeting space. The upper floor would house only an administrative office and storage space. The catering kitchen would not be directly adjacent to the auditorium.
Scheme 5: a single story building of 20,000 square feet with a dividable auditorium and room for retail or meeting rooms.
It would require demolition of the Solarium. The 8,700 square foot auditorium would be turned sideways. The lobby would not offer ocean views. It includes an administrative office, catering kitchen and storage space. The auditorium could offer a beach view.
Team members discussed the added labor charges of having an auditorium on the second floor requiring items to be hauled up in an elevator including food from the catering kitchen. They also discussed the cost of maintaining two or more elevators.
Before the meeting, the project team and members of the public toured the old Convention Hall. The wooden floor was sold along with lighting, windows, air conditioning units and stage lighting and sound system.
The team also looked at the Solarium, which is currently being sanded prior to being painted.
Kimmel said in a best-case scenario, the state Department of Environmental Protection may not need to modify the city’s CAFRA permit approved for the larger design. The current timeline would have a finished design available for submission to the DEP by September 15.
Crowley suggested a name other than Convention Hall for the new building since it would be a community center not a convention facility. Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. concurred.
The Convention Hall Project Team is scheduled to meet Wed., Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. in City Hall Auditorium.
The team consists of Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr., City Manager Bruce MacLeod, Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman, Cape May Construction Official Bill Callahan, John Bilotta, Al Beale, Mike Whipple, Mary Stewart and Dennis Crowley. The team includes Steve Markley from Hunter Davis, a construction management firm and architect Martin Kimmel.
The team was joined by Councilwomen Deanna Fiocca and Terry Swain.