‘THE BEST IS YET TO COME’
Hundreds gather as final beam of Steinmetz Hall lifted into place
Accompanied by a chanting crowd, one of the final steel beams of Steinmetz Hall was lifted into place during a celebration Thursday on the lawn of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
“Move that beam,” chanted the hundreds of civic dignitaries, arts leaders, construction workers and center employees who attended the barbecue lunch. Steinmetz Hall, the final theater of the downtown arts center, is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
As is traditional on major construction projects, those who attended Thursday’s festivities were invited to sign the beam before it was hoisted by a giant crane into place. City Mayor Buddy Dyer added “Orlando” under his signature, while county Mayor Jerry Demings made his mark in big, bold lettering.
“It is nothing short of extraordinary to see what our community has become,” Demings said in his speech. “The best is yet to come.”
Demings replaced Teresa Jacobs as county mayor in December and was praised by fellow dignitaries.
“He’s adopted this center like no other,” said Jim Pugh, the center’s chairman of the board. Dyer called Demings “my favorite Orange County mayor.”
The event’s down-home theme caused one unexpected laugh when a recording of country star Tim McGraw singing “I may be a real bad boy” accompanied Dyer’s arrival on stage. But Dyer underscored the seriousness of the center’s effect on the region.
“In Orlando we have set our sights high,” he said. “Everything we do is world class.
Steinmetz Hall is just one part of this final phase of center construction. Also being built: The Green Room, a jazz club-like venue for smaller music programs; eight dressing rooms; a kitchen; nine bars; eight restrooms; and additional meeting space.
Named for donors Chuck and Marjory Pabst Steinmetz, the hall will be used mainly for orchestral, ballet and opera performances. When construction is complete, the center will encompass 698,312 square feet and have cost more than $600 million.