Jarman Hall renovations are deserving of applause

Inside the renovated Jarman Auditorium

Jarman Hall, Longwood’s main performance for nearly six decades, reopened Oct. 7, 2010, following an extensive renovation.

New lighting and sound fixtures were added, interior finishes were spruced up, and all of the mechanical and electrical systems, including the HVAC system, are new. The previous HVAC system, which was below the floor in the auditorium, was so noisy that it had to be turned off during performances.

Changes outside the building include new urns, planting beds and brick walkways, and a new bus pull-off on High Street. The front façade now has expanded glass panels, letting more light into the lobby, and a rear façade was added with pilasters and a cornice that mimic those on the front.

Other highlights of the interior renovation include several upgrades to the auditorium: new paint, carpeting, a tambour top for controlling lighting and sound, a forestage reflector in the ceiling in front of the stage and 14 acoustical curtains lining the perimeter of the hall. Elsewhere in the building, a freight elevator was installed, and two large dressing rooms with attached bathrooms were added on the downstairs level.

Jarman opened in 1951.