What is the current status of the renovation?
UNCSA is nearing completion of Phase 1 and a two-year advance planning and design
development period for Phase 2 of the comprehensive renovation. Phase 2 will complete
the renovation. Construction on Phase 2 will begin February 2027 and the Stevens Center
will reopen in 2029.
What is included in Phase 1?
Phase 1 of the Stevens Center renovation includes a significant redesign of the lobby
to create a more expansive, transformative experience for patrons and bring the Stevens
Center in line with modern theaters of today, while honoring the 1929 building’s historic
character. The lobby is redesigned to create a more organic and fluid entry for audiences
and visitors as well as increase accessibility and amenities. Improvements focused
on patron comfort, such as renovated restrooms and updated concession spaces, are
included.
Phase 1 also made critical repairs to the exterior of the building to address water
intrusion and ensure it is watertight, allowing for improvements to the interior of
the venue in Phase 2. This includes a new roof and repairs to the brick exterior,
terra-cotta façade, and windows.
What is included in Phase 2?
Phase 2 of the renovation will transform the theater chamber, creating a more intimate
and flexible environment through enhancements to seating and the stage, as well as
an entirely reconfigured balcony with improved sightlines. The theater will also be
upgraded with seamlessly integrated technology to create a future-thinking performance
facility with provisions for immersive video and sound. Front-of-house lobby areas
will be enhanced with new fixtures and finishes, providing continuity with Phase 1
of the renovation, which reimagined the lobby areas to create a more organic and fluid
entry for audiences and visitors as well as increase accessibility and amenities.
Read more in the press release.
Where will UNCSA present "The Nutcracker?"
UNCSA's production of “The Nutcracker” will return to Winston-Salem in 2026 with performances
at R. J. Reynolds Auditorium, the site of its inaugural performance in 1966. Tickets
will go on sale in July. Plans for future years will be announced, and “The Nutcracker”
will return to the Stevens Center upon its reopening.
Who is the design and construction team for the renovation?
Architect of record Jenkins Peer Architects, based in Charlotte, and design architect
Steinberg Hart, based in New York, are the design team for Phase 2 of the Stevens
Center renovation.
Winston-Salem-based Frank L. Blum Construction Company is construction manager for
the renovation of the Stevens Center.
When will the Stevens Center reopen?
UNCSA is nearing completion of Phase 1 and a two-year advance planning and design
development period for Phase 2 of the comprehensive renovation. Phase 2 will complete
the renovation. Construction on Phase 2 will begin February 2027 and the Stevens Center
will reopen in 2029.
Will there be an organ in the renovated Stevens Center?
While the original 1929 Carolina Theatre housed an organ as was typical for the performance venues
and movie palaces of its day, it was removed many decades ago. The current renovation will not include an organ, however UNCSA is home to the recently
renovated Sarah Graham Kenan Memorial Organ, a renowned C.B. Fisk, Op. 75, on campus in Crawford Hall.
Will the new Stevens Center be ADA compliant and accessible?
Yes, an important goal of the renovation was to ensure up-to-date compliance with
current ADA and accessibility standards, including new entry points into the theater
on ground level.
How many people will the new venue seat?
Phase 2 of the renovation creates a more intimate and flexible environment in the
theater chamber through enhancements to seating and the stage, as well as an entirely
reconfigured balcony with improved sightlines. Seating dimensions and spacing will
be updated to meet contemporary expectations for comfort. Due to these enhancements,
seat count will be reduced; the final number will be determined as details are finalized.
Will there be a bar or food options?
The new lobby spaces will offer concession stands for patron comfort; offerings and
availability will vary by performance.
Will there be a balcony?
Yes, a key component of Phase 2 of the renovation will be to create a more intimate
and flexible environment in the theater through enhancements to seating and the stage,
as well as an entirely reconfigured balcony. The new balcony, now positioned a full
story lower, brings audiences closer to the stage and improves sightlines.
Will seats be more roomy?
Yes, the design will improve accessibility and comfort for patrons, with seating dimensions
and spacing updated to meet contemporary expectations for comfort.
Will technological upgrades be included?
The theater will also be upgraded with seamlessly integrated technology to create
a future-thinking performance facility with provisions for immersive video and sound.
Technological upgrades will position the theater for ongoing evolution in high-tech
immersive audio-visual experiences. Students and faculty will have access to improved
lighting positions, sound control, and acoustic control.
Will the acoustics be affected by the renovation?
The design team is working closely with nationally recognized acoustics firm Jaffe
Holden to optimize acoustics throughout the design process. A goal of the renovation
is to create a more flexible and intimate environment that will provide optimal acoustics
across the range of events presented at the venue.
What consultants have been a part of the design process?
Several consultants have been key partners in the Stevens Center renovation, each
contributing specialized expertise to the design:
- Theatre Consultants Collaborative – Theater Consulting Services
- Schuler Shook – Performance Sound, Video and Communication Systems
- Jaffe Holden – Acoustic Consultation Services
- Essential Light Design Studio – Architectural Lighting Design
Deans, faculty and staff from the schools of Dance, Drama, Design & Production, Filmmaking
and Music have participated in the design development process as well.
Will there be a restaurant in the Stevens Center again?
There are no plans for a restaurant at this time. The new lobby spaces will offer
concession stands for patron comfort; offerings and availability will vary by performance.
Will the original historic character of the Stevens Center be retained?
Efforts have been made to retain the venue’s historic character, with the design enhancing
the original building's unique neoclassical features through juxtaposition with new
design elements. The design also incorporates elements inspired by the Art Deco style
prevalent in the time period of the original building’s 1929 construction. The existing
architectural shell remains intact, complemented by new finishes, locally sourced
decorative materials, and a refreshed color palette that gives the chamber greater
warmth and reflects both the building’s legacy and its connection to the region.
Where will the new loading dock go?
As part of the Stevens Center renovation, UNCSA acquired the property at 411 W. Fourth
St., adjacent to the Stevens Center, allowing for an expansion of the renovation to
include the construction of a new loading dock on part of the property. The loading
dock will move from Marshall St. to Spruce St. between Fourth and Fifth Streets. This
new loading dock will substantially expand production capacity and wing space, allowing
for a wider variety of productions by UNCSA, local arts partner organizations, and
other national presenters.
What are the plans for 411 Fourth St?
The space will function as a creative hub for attracting and developing new arts and
entertainment ventures in downtown Winston-Salem. One of these new organizations is
Second Serving Studios, a new nonprofit media production facility developed by Project
Space 411 that will be a principal tenant. The studio will support professional film,
television, and digital production, including North Carolina’s only purpose-built,
broadcast-ready kitchen studio. It will create expanded experiential learning opportunities
for UNCSA students, particularly through collaboration with the School of Filmmaking,
while serving as a long-term creative and economic asset for downtown Winston-Salem,
complementing the revitalized Stevens Center as an anchor of the Fourth Street corridor.
Where are UNCSA performances being held during the renovation?
During the time the Stevens Center is closed for renovation, UNCSA is presenting events
normally held there in venues on campus, throughout Winston-Salem including on the
campus of Wake Forest University, Centenary Methodist, and at High Point Theatre. Visit
uncsa.edu/performances for more information.
Where is the UNCSA Box Office during the renovation?
The UNCSA Box Office is temporarily located at Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus, 1533
S. Main St. The Box Office is maintaining its current operating hours, Monday to Friday,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the contact phone number remains the same,
336-721-1945. Visit
uncsa.edu/performances for more information.
