New Convention Hall Design Looks Old

CAPE MAY — The city’s Convention Hall Committee narrowed its preference for a new convention hall at an Aug. 15 meeting suggesting a new facility should have a center front entrance from the promenade and a facade design hearkening back to a hall that opened in Cape May July 4, 1917.
The original hall was designed by Sherman Sharp, a local resident, according to historian Jim Campbell.
Architect Martin Kimmel, of Kimmel Bogrette, has been offering his services to the city at no charge. He has brought five possible floor plans to a committee meeting last month and returned last week with two redesigned plans, both showing an exterior that would have looked at home in Cape May at the turn of the century.
Option one floor plan features space for four retail stores along the promenade, which is consistent with Cape May’s historic convention hall.
The “great hall” would measure 8,500 square feet, which is slightly larger than the current hall, said Kimmel.
The stage would be located in the same location as the current convention hall with a backstage storage area to the right of the stage. Directly behind the stage would be a lobby offering a view of the ocean.
Kimmel said the lobby area would be in conflict with the back of the stage and limited access would be offered to the left side of the stage from the rear.
The rear of the building would also have space for a restaurant with an ocean view and a catering kitchen for events.
He offered an option for a limited second story on the hall. The area above the great hall would not be available since it would have a high ceiling.
Available on a second floor would be three conference rooms, a public meeting room, and additional restrooms.
There also could be sufficient space to allow a restaurant on the first floor to extend to the second floor facing the promenade. The design would include using the space currently occupied by the Solarium.
Kimmel said public restrooms accessible from outside the hall for beachgoers could be included in the design.
He presented an “option two,” which locates the entrance and lobby/pre-function space on the side of the hall and places the stage on the side of the hall that faces Morrow’s Nut House. A large backstage area would be located on the side of the building rather than at the rear/ocean side.
The restaurant would be located on the opposite of the rear of the hall. The catering kitchen would connect directly to the lobby/pre-function space and great hall. The design has one less retail store location.
Kimmel said the only disadvantage of the design of option two was the building would not be symmetrical with the entranceway located at the side of the facility. An optional second floor would offer five conference rooms and a public meeting area.
“This is fantastic,” said committee member James Wyatt.
He said residents have told him they were excited about having a “carbon copy” of the convention hall built in 1917. Wyatt said he liked option one.
Kimmel presented a concept design of the front of the option one convention hall featuring a grand, tall center entrance with three bays on either side with awnings over storefronts.
He also showed a design for option two featuring an entrance on the side of the building.
The cost of constructing a single story, option one convention hall would be $6.7 million, said Kimmel. Adding a second floor would increase costs $1.5 million to $2.2 million, he said.
He said he was not able to find plans for the historic convention hall on file with the city.
Committee member Tom Carroll he liked the stage moved to the side of the hall. He said he liked the facade of option one but the great hall design of option two.
Carroll said he also liked the larger lobby area with a view of the ocean in that design.
Committee Chairman Skip Loughlin said he liked the option two design even though the building was asymmetrical. He said most of the town does not remember the historic convention hall and while “we’d like to see some similarities,” it would be a mistake to try to duplicate it.
Carroll suggested using the floor plan of option two but giving it a center entrance. Such a design would retain a stage on the side of the hall, place the catering kitchen next to both the great hall and lobby/pre-function area, which would remain on the side of the building that now faces the Solarium.
Loughlin said the city’s next step was to hire an architect.
City Engineer Marc DeBlasio of Remington Vernick said Kimmel has been working pro bono.
Kimmel said architectural design would cost about $400,000 or 8 percent of the project total.
City Manager Luciano V. Corea Jr said Kimmel should prepare a proposal for council as a professional services agreement, which would be subject to council approval.
Mayor Jerome E. Inderwies said a town meeting would be held to present conceptual designs to the public.
Residents Jeanne and Ed Powick presented a letter to Loughlin, Inderwies and the press complaining the current path of the committee “does not seem to be utilizing local architectural experience…” The letter also calls for the committee to come up with an agreed list of requisite specifications for a new hall.