Cost to keep the Van Wezel going estimated at $17 million

Whether it becomes a complementary facility to a new performing arts center or continues as the city’s primary show venue, the cost to affect repairs, preserve and protect the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is approximately $17 million.

During its Jan. 13 meeting, Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee received the draft of the latest report from Karins Engineering on the structural integrity of the Van Wezel. The report is the lynchpin in its deliberations on a re-use recommendation of the building should the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center be built on the same property.

While the 409-page document is filled with technical details ranging from waterproofing, seating options, acoustics, utilities and more from basement to rooftop, what stood out was the cost to mitigate maintenance issues, improve functionality and flood proof the building,

Karins and its assembled team of engineers and consultants received an object lesson in flood vulnerability of the Van Wezel in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which left $10 million worth of damage.

Led by Karins Engineering principal David Karins, the report suggests options to protect the building from a 500-year flood event range from $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Besides flood barriers at key locations around the building, those options include wave energy absorbing breakwater, a higher flood barrier along the bay and an AquaFence, a removable flood wall that can be deployed in advance of storm events.

An example of the latter is Tampa General Hospital, which protected its facilities from flooding during the 2024 hurricane season.

The question becomes, then, should $17 million be invested in the 55-year-old building that may not have a long-term future as the city’s primary performing arts venue, or does the prospect of spending $17 million usurp an investment upwards of $400 million on a new hall on the opposite corner of the parking lot, which is currently under design by the Italy-based architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop.

“There are things that are easy to make a decision on. For example, improving the flood resistance of the building in general and the property as a whole,” Karins told the committee. “That’s a pretty easy decision to make, given what's just happened to us. Changing the seating bowl and adding premium seating space, things like that are more subjective. Hopefully, you all will be able to make some good recommendations to the City Commission, but we should have enough information now that we're dealing with facts and figures and not just speculation.”

Inside the building, the big-ticket items at $5 million each are components replacement and maintenance of the electrical and HVAC systems, plus another $1 million to upgrade the fire protection system. No costs for reconfiguring the seating bowl to add aisles and any premium seating options were included, nor adding restroom facilities — which are in short supply for the capacity — and acoustic improvements.

The theater, Karins said, “Is generally okay for amplified music, and for unamplified sound it's deficient” and is adequate for “smaller bus and truck shows.” Any expansion of the seating capacity, which is inadequate for first-run off-Broadway shows, will push the cost beyond $40 million, the threshold of the 50% “FEMA rule” that prohibits improvements to a structure exceeding half its market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations.

The appraised value of the Van Wezel, according to the report, is just more than $80 million.

Committee member David Rovine asked Karins if there is a short-term fix should the new performing arts center move forward, or should the city consider a longer-term solution for the Van Wezel.

“You can continue to maintain the building indefinitely, so it comes down to how comfortable is the community with the risk associated with some catastrophic event,” Karins said. “Our team was looking at not just seven to 10 years, we were looking at a longer life.”

The finalized Karins Engineering report will be presented to the committee at its Feb. 24 meeting. The next meeting of the Purple Ribbon Committee will be 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, when it will be briefed by the Bay Park Conservancy on developments in The Bay park and its effects on the Van Wezel.