Steamplant transformed into new scene shop for Lipscomb Theatre
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University’s theatre department has a new home for scenic design and prop construction, and it’s a space as innovative as the productions it supports.
This past summer university officials retired and closed the steamplant, which served the campus for more than 60 years, to continue the modernization of the HVAC system on campus by installing new boilers in several buildings that were still dependent on it. As a result, the steam plant facility was refurbished as a new Scene Shop for George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts students and faculty as a place to build scenes and store props for musical and theatrical productions.
The transformation of the steam plant into a fully functioning scenic shop marks a major milestone for the department. The prop and scene shop had previously been located off-campus in a facility adjacent to Lipscomb. The steam plant is located just steps from the theatre department’s home in Sewell Hall. The new location brings faculty, staff and students closer together, enhancing collaboration and streamlining the design process.
Students building sets in the new Scene Shop.
“Being on campus has improved day-to-day operations and has made our collaboration process so much easier because we are all near each other and can easily see the progress of the work we are all doing,” said Andy Bleiler, assistant professor, scenic designer and production manager. “This was much harder when we were at our previous location.”
The Scene Shop — affectionately called “Steam Plant Dream Plant” by theatre faculty and students — opened in the fall and is already improving efficiency and student experience.
The new shop provides significant advantages over the previous location, particularly in terms of space and functionality, said Bleiler.
With its soaring ceilings, the shop allows scenic designers to construct large-scale set pieces at full height, ensuring proper fit and actor safety before they are moved to the stage.
“The space offers tremendous height, which allows us to mock up tall pieces of scenery in the shop to make sure they fit together properly and will be safe for the actors,” Bleiler explained. “Our old location was not tall enough to do this, which added a level of stress to our building processes.”
“The large windows also help us to see the colors we paint the set pieces much more clearly which ensures they will look great once on stage. Because the shop is so spacious, it allows us to store a ton of scenery components that are reused from show to show, saving thousands of dollars a year and showing the students that we are a very sustainable program,” he continued. “The loading dock is also a huge game changer, because it is now much easier to move set pieces in and out of the shop, and the delivery trucks have plenty of room for dropping off building supplies such as lumber and steel. It has made the whole process of doing what we do so much safer and simpler for our students.”
Students working on production props in the new Scene Shop.
The new space also includes an area for students to put on students to put on their personal protective equipment before entering the scene shop to use the tools as well as two paint sinks, which make teaching scenic painting and cleaning up afterwards more convenient and efficient.
Technical Director Hendrick Shelton emphasized how the new space aligns with the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) standards, a major step forward for Lipscomb’s theatre program.
“The new shop is being held to NAST standards that we had difficulty meeting at the old shop, and we are so grateful to be one step forward to our future accreditation,” Shelton said. “Students are now being trained with up-to-date technology and hardware in a space conducive to their learning.”
The move has also had an immediate impact on production efficiency. Shelton noted that set load-in times have been dramatically reduced, and the ability to store and reuse scenic elements has resulted in significant cost savings while also reinforcing the department’s commitment to sustainability.
“The new shop has made our lives so much easier in all capacities. Our students no longer have to travel across campus to attend class. We have saved money on transportation as we can now walk our set units to the theatre in half the time,” Shelton said. “Though change can be tough, it cut our projected load-in time down by three hours for our recent Shamblin show. We are very blessed to have the shop right around the corner from the loading zone of Shamblin, which made for an easier journey than the old days of loading a truck at Stokes and driving it over.”
Bleiler, who is a graduate of Lipscomb’s graduate sustainability program, also highlighted the benefits of repurposing an existing building rather than constructing a new one.
“We often say in sustainability that the ‘greenest’ building is the one that is already built,” Bleiler said. “It is actually a fine example of industrial post-war architecture. The building is quite handsome.”
Shelton added that thanks to the additional storage space available in the new Scene Shop, they were able to pull a lot of their set pieces from stock, allowing them to maintain the department’s sustainability pledge and stay a part of the Broadway Green Alliance.
Beyond efficiency and sustainability, the new shop has significantly improved the student experience. Theatre students have built props and scenes for three productions so far this year.
“The best benefit for students is that they are now being trained with up-to-date technology in a space that truly supports their learning,” Shelton said. “By having our new space, we are able to give them an education in scenic arts that is in line with the rest of the nation.”
The transformation of the steam plant into a scene shop was a rapid turnaround, completed in just two months.
“We are so grateful for the efforts of President McQueen, Provost Jennifer Shewmaker, Jeff Baughn and the amazing teams led by Jennifer Earps and Mike Engelman, for all they did to turn an old steam plant into a shop in just two months,” Shelton said. “A truly brilliant use of the space!”
Bleiler added, “We are tremendously grateful for the new shop. It is a shining example of how the university puts students first. We are so proud to be a part of that.”