The latest building to be renovated by the Capital Project's "Restore the Core" program is the historic Playhouse Theatre. The theater will be undergoing major renovations until spring 2009.

Remodeled from a storehouse into a theater in 1930, the Playhouse has been the intimate home to hundreds of productions and a multitude of fond memories for artists and audiences throughout the years.

The UW's ad hoc Restoration Planning Committee Renovation submitted plans in June 2004. The committee constructed a "facilities condition index" (FCI) based on a formula that divides the backlog of repair and improvement needs by the current replacement value of the building.

The Playhouse, with an FCI of 1.1, was placed on the critical building list. According to the committee's report, these buildings are "too valuable to remove, increasingly expensive to maintain and difficult to upgrade on a piecemeal basis," the report said.

The report went on to say that "these buildings have reached a threshold where the University must decide whether to undertake major renovations of these facilities, or demolish and construct new facilities."

For the Playhouse, this translates into a much-needed renovation that will fix the many problems thespians and theater-goers have experienced in the past.

Anne Stewart, the School of Drama's general manager for production, said that she is particularly excited that the Playhouse is being renovated, which means it will be safer and better than ever. Stewart also said that the Playhouse will retain the old charm that is an essential part of its character.

"We're respecting the history in how we are renovating it," Stewart said. "The drama department has been very involved in working with the architects and the contractors."

The renovations will add a catwalk to the Playhouse, as well as alter the roof lines. The department has taken additional steps to be "green," recycling and reusing portions of the original materials.

"This is a building that was desperately in need of basic improvements in heating, ventilating, lighting, water, toilets — basic operating things," Stewart said. "We loved it with its flaws. We are going to get as many of the good features of the old but also a lot more amenities for the people working in it and for the audience."

[Reach reporter Garrett Troy at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]