THE ARTHOUSE BLOG

Here is the report for this week. The second floor drywall is almost completely installed—both for the expansive front gallery area and for the mezzanine studios.

On the roof, the work continues on the elevator and the wheelchair lift. The steel work for the movie screen and the mechanical room is proceeding nicely as well. Around 75% of the framing is done for the IPE decking installation next week.

The second floor gallery area is really taking shape. Here you see the drywall that has been installed.

Your intrepid reporter stood on a catwalk over the skylight and shot this photo looking back (west) towards the movie screen. You see the framing which is being readied for the IPE (“EE-pay”) installation next week. IPE is a Brazilian hardwood quite unlike anything else in the universe. Its finish is durable like iron and the decking planks (1” deep by 5 3/8” wide) will be interspersed with lighted glass inserts to produce a surface that will be unique in our city. Personally, I can’t wait for the first party up here!

It’s fun to stand on the Arthouse roof and look back at these historic hotels—you can take a deep breath and imagine how many deals that played a part in Texas history were cut behind closed doors in these buildings. I know that at one point, in a more romantic and leisurely era, a big band played on weekend nights on one of the top floors of the Stephen F. Austin (the left side of this frame). How fitting that Arthouse, which is on the leading edge of creativity, is nestled among these tall structures that hearken back to days gone by.

One last vestige of the old Queen movie theatre, soon to be covered once more.

Click here for renderings of the finished building and to donate to the Arthouse Capital Campaign Online.

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