Orchestra Pit Lift Finishing

The steel structure for the Pit lift 'car' or platform is loaded into the pit, then assembled by the crew from Gala systems.

A wood deck is built on top of the lift car.

The pit lift at its lowest position, creating a full sized orchestra pit which extends under the stage.

The entire orchestra pit lift car, as seen from the lighting positions in the ceiling of the auditorium.

see some earlier photos of the pit lift construction.

Orchestra Pit Lift

The crew from Gala Systems out of Quebec begins installing the motors for the pit lift. At its lowest position, the lift will create a level playing area for the orchestra. When raised, it will extend the front of the stage.

Hammering

Robin Cote, field superintendent for Willis A. Smith Construction, does some touch up to the walled over construction entrance onto stage.



One of the construction crew works in the new cross under hallway under the stage. The new trap in the center of the stage can be seen above him.

Orchestra Pit

Lead architect Killis Almond (center), makes a first inspection of the new expanded orchestra pit under the stage just after the removal of the temporary struts. With him are representatives from contractor Willis A. Smith Construction and subcontractor Dolphin Innovations.

Pit and Stage

Lifts work throughout the theater as work begins on the freshly poured stage. Temporary supports for the stage can be seen in the orchestra pit.

Building the Orchestra Pit Walls

Cinder blocks are brought into the pit to build the cross under hallway walls.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 of the orchestra pit construction.

Also, see the photos of the excavation before the pit construction began:
Part 1
Part 2

Maestro Victor DeRenzi

Maestro Victor DeRenzi checks out the new expanded orchestra pit and the newly opened lobby atrium.

Orchestra Pit Construction, Part 6

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5

Also, see the photos of the excavation before the pit construction began:
Part 1
Part 2

Orchestra Pit Construction, Part 5

The walls and floor of the pit are finished and preparation begins for forming the stage.

See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, Part 4

Also, see the photos of the excavation before the pit construction began:
Part 1
Part 2

Digging Out the Pit - Video

The last of the pit is cleared out so the forming of the walls and floor can be completed.

Orchestra Pit Construction, Part 4 - Video

The side walls of the pit are shored up while the concrete sets.

Work continues on the back wall of the orchestra pit.

See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Also, see the photos of the excavation before the pit construction began:
Part 1
Part 2

Orchestra Pit and Theater

An early view of the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater and the Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer Orchestra pit from the stage of the Opera House.

Orchestra Pit Construction, Part 3

As the front wall of the orchestra pit is completed and preparations begin for pouring the theater floor, work goes on finishing the rear walls and floor area of the pit.

See Part 1 and Part 2.

Also, see the photos of the excavation before the pit construction began:
Part 1
Part 2

Orchestra Pit, A Look Back to July

Some earlier photos of the orchestra pit taken by Willis A. smith Construction, Inc. in July. See more photos here.

Orchestra Pit Construction Continued

The orchestra pit floor and outside walls are finalized.

Orchestra Pit Costruction

The rear area of the pit, which will eventually be covered over by the new stage, begins to take shape.

Excavating Under the Stage, Part 2

A backhoe works its way out of the theater, as excavation of the rear of the orchestra pit is completed.

See Part 1.

Grading the Theater

Soil is brought in through the back of the theater by a backhoe and smoothed out by a green bobcat to make a level surface for the pouring of the theater floor.

Excavating Under the Stage, Part 1

The construction crew begins excavating the back area of the orchestra pit, which will extend under the new stage.

Orchestra Pit, Part 5

The construction crew works on installing the forms for the side wall of the orchestra pit.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of the orchestra pit construction.

Orchestra Pit, Part 4

See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of the Orchestra Pit construction.

In these four photos, the front edge of the orchestra pit has been formed and the floor of the sub-pit, for the installation of a mechanical pit lift, is in place.

Orchestra Pit, Part 3

The construction crew finishes the rebar which will reinforce the orchestra pit wall.

The forms are added to the orchestra pit wall before the concrete is poured.

The concrete outer wall of the orchestra pit is left to cure.

View from the Balcony

The pit construction viewed from the left side of the balcony.

Orchestra Pit, Part 2

Here is a sequence of photos showing the early parts of the orchestra pit construction.

Chemical grouting to stabilize the soil is completed at right.

The sub-pit for the pit lift machinery is prepared.

The rebar and forms for the pit walls are installed.

Orchestra Pit, Part 1

In the photos below, the construction crew prepares to pour the concrete floor of the mechanical sub-pit of the Orchestra Pit, which will house the pit lift.

Theater June 1 to August 28

As a continuation of the earlier post showing a sequence of photos of the theater demolition, here is an update showing the beginning of the orchestra pit construction.

Chemical Grouting

To solidify soil around and under walls and columns in the theater before the orchestra pit was dug out, specialized equipment was brought in to inject chemical grout.

Collar Installation

An important step in preparing to dig the orchestra pit was to make some modifications to the proscenium arch columns. In the photos below you can see the creation of a "collar" at the bottom of the column, which ties to chemically solidified soil below.

Pit Preparation

Before digging out the new orchestra pit, the contractor made some preparations. In the top photo, chemical grouting equipment can be seen in the background, injecting a compound into the soil under the theater walls to solidify it. In the bottom photo, the steel plates in the foreground conceal a new sump pump installed to keep the excavation area (and the orchestra pit when completed) dry.