O'Fallon project team outlines theater transformation; staff argues combining with city hall saves about 10%

O'Fallon — Tom Jabell, presenting the theater transformation project on March 26, described a phased plan to convert the existing gym into a permanent theater with new stage extensions, curtains, lighting grid, improved audience areas and backstage dressing rooms.

Jabell said the team prioritized required life‑safety work — HVAC and ventilation upgrades, sprinklers, and smoke evacuation — as priority one and explained that combining the theater work with a concurrent city hall construction contract offers construction efficiencies and an estimated minimum savings of 10% (staff estimated roughly $17,000 saved by reducing mobilization and duplicate subcontractor work). He said the team plans to close the theater April 13, complete final design and permitting in April–May, carry out construction May–July, and return the space to O'Fallon Theatre Works by early August if the schedule holds.

Council discussion centered on schedule risk and community impacts: council members pressed staff about the possibility of producing a June show, and Jabell said combining projects makes a June production unlikely but preserves the holiday show timeline. Council members also emphasized life‑safety upgrades as essential even if other improvements are phased later.

Why it matters: The project affects the cultural arts calendar and ongoing operating arrangements for O'Fallon Theatre Works; it also uses city capital dollars and has tradeoffs between earlier programming and construction cost savings.

Next steps: Staff said an April 3 pricing update will clarify the final budget and that future change orders will come to council for approval before the construction contract is executed.