Workers with Pro-Tech Construction of Raleigh test masonry around the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater’s windows as they prepare to start the building envelope repair project.

Workers with Pro-Tech Construction of Raleigh test masonry around the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater’s windows as they prepare to start the building envelope repair project.

<p>Workers with Britt and Britt Roofing of Lumberton conduct roof replacement at the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater. Replacing the roof is just one of many renovation projects the theater has undertaken while its doors remain closed to the public.</p>

Workers with Britt and Britt Roofing of Lumberton conduct roof replacement at the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater. Replacing the roof is just one of many renovation projects the theater has undertaken while its doors remain closed to the public.

<p>Sceiford</p>

Sceiford

LUMBERTON — There’s been plenty of activity at the Carolina Civic Center despite it being closed to the public since spring.

The historic theater located in the heart of downtown closed eight months ago after featuring its fifth performance — The Drifters — of the 2019-20 Mainstage Series in February.

“Later that month we realized we’re done for the indefinite future,” said Richard Sceiford, executive director of Carolina Civic Center Foundation Inc. “The pandemic provided the obvious opening to get this work done while we were closed to the public.”

During that eight-month period, there has been a resurgence of focus on structural damages to the building, some of which were 90 years in the making.

In 2008, Lumberton City Council invested $2 million in a major renovation that saved the theater from permanent closure. Masonry repair was in the original renovation project, but that job was budgeted out the original plan. Sceiford said Hurricane Florence brought the issue back to the forefront.

“The bottom line is that this work has all needed to be done at some point,” Sceiford said. “The hurricanes — and especially Florence — really exposed the weaknesses in this building and also caused damage on their own.”

The theater is simultaneously going through three major renovation projects, which involve repairing about $100,000 worth of hurricane-related damages.

Some of that work includes adding flooring to the second floor; repairing the lobby area’s exterior wall; patching, repairing, sanding and painting the stage; and repairing and repainting the proscenium arch above the stage.

The City of Lumberton’s insurance is paying for the hurricane damages to the Carolina Civic Center because they own the structure.

Shortly after the theater closed, Sceiford hired ECS Southeast to conduct studies of the Civic Center with the goal of determining the best approaches and processes for weatherizing the building envelope, which is commonly defined as the separation of the interior and exterior of a building.

Included in the findings was the need to replace the roof and to renovate the masonry on the theater’s north and east elevations.

These projects are being paid for with money from the foundation’s capital reserves, Sceiford said. Britt and Britt Roofing of Lumberton is expected to finish roof repairs within a month’s time. When the roof is complete, more interior issues can be addressed.

“Everything is kind of intertwined because they don’t need to be replacing carpeting and plastering and dry-walling if water is coming in,” Sceiford said. “Every time it rains, water is coming in, not just because of Hurricane Florence, but because the roof is 30 years old. It just keeps getting worse and worse.”

Ultimately, the future of the Carolina Civic Center depends on these much-needed renovations, Sceiford said.

“We’re really saving a 1928 building that is very active,” Sceiford said.

To save a historic building means using professionals who know the proper materials to be used.

“A 1928 building is an old building that’s gone through a lot, but it’s also unique in its construction,” Sceiford said. “These guys are going to match up masonry material in color based upon historic requirements. This is very specific skilled work — roofing and masonry.

“A lot more has to go into it because of the aging building.”

Renovations are expected to be complete in January.

The theater will take a break from repairs during the rehearsal for and the filming of the “A Robeson County Christmas Show,” which will be virtual for the first time ever this year. The theater has taken to virtual performances, like many other theater across the nation, as its doors remain closed to the public.

“For the first eight (virtual shows), they were all performers that had all been on our stage before, so people know who they are and a lot of people tuned in,” Sceiford said.

Saturdaythe theater will learn how performers from outside the region do in the theater’s virtual setting, with the premiere of a pre-taped show featuring Shana Tucker, one of the postponed acts from the 2019-20 Mainstage Series.

“It’s different from our Christmas show where the performers are well-known throughout the county,” Sceiford said.

The performance will premiere at 7 p.m. on the theater’s Facebook page.

“We’re just glad that we’re active in some way,” Sceiford said.

Tomeka Sinclair can be reached at [email protected] or 910-416-5865.