MUSKEGON, MI -- For 90 years, the Frauenthal Center has been a focal point in the downtown Muskegon landscape.
Home to community events, performances from the West Michigan Symphony, the Muskegon Downtown Live Concert Series, the Muskegon Civic Theatre, the Fraunenthal has been a cornerstone to the downtown scene since opening its doors on Sept. 17, 1930.
In an effort to preserve that history and look to the next 90 years, the center and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County have identified $7 million in preservation projects. The fundraising quietly began recently in hopes of completing the upgrades and restoration work planned for the project.
Eric Messing, the executive director of the Frauenthal Center, said these fundamental structural needs and costs are “critical” for the future use of the facility, which prompted the development of the fundraising effort.
Related: Frauenthal Theater has stood the test of time; see photo evidence of its ‘extraordinary beauty’
An upgraded sound and video system, a new HVAC system, restoring one of the marquees and installing energy efficient windows are some of the key projects within the Frauenthal Preservation Campaign Fund.
“The only way for us to really get on top of these is to move forward with the preservation campaign,” said Todd Jacobs, president and CEO of the Community Foundation.
The fundraising effort is still in the quiet phase, Jacobs said, meaning they’re working to collect larger gifts from individuals and companies before rolling it out to the public. One of those larger donations came recently from the Howmet Aerospace Foundation through a $250,000 grant.
Another focus of the preservation is the exterior of the building. Some of the most visible wear and tear is on the historic façade.
“The old brick and masonry, 90 years old,” Jacobs said. “There’s a lot of Michigan weather on terra cotta and the brick building.”
The last time the Frauenthal Center underwent major work was in the 1990s, when Muskegon County voters approved a $16 million bond. Jacobs describes those projects as “historical preservation,” bringing the theater back to its historical grandeur.
“They did as much as they could with the dollars that were available,” Jacobs said.
Related: $2M in cost overruns at Muskegon convention center could be paid with naming rights
With this venture, the foundation is aiming to complete preservation projects that will ensure the longevity of the facility and bring it up to date with modern technology. One idea, Jacobs said, is to have a camera in the theater broadcasting onto the new marquee for passersby to see a real time feed or rehearsals.
The preservation campaign has already collected enough funding to start some of the more immediate needs, including installing energy efficient windows. Another undertaking is replacing the center’s HVAC system, a task that takes on more relevance because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Frauenthal Center has been shuttered since March and plans to remain closed at least through the end of 2020 because of the pandemic. But the organization is taking advantage of this time to complete some of the larger plans.
“We will be moving forward with the HVAC while the building is closed,” said Messing. “And that’s really a great opportunity to get this work done, undertake a project of this size and not have to close the facility again once we’re open. That’s what we really want to avoid.”
A portion of the preservation fund also includes a $2 million endowment.
“We also wanted to raise some money for endowment so that we would have funds available that would continue to support ongoing maintenance, preservation and restoration,” said Jacobs.
He estimates most of the preservation projects will be completed within the next three to five years.
The foundation refers to the campaign as “the next 90 years.” It comes on the heels of a 90th anniversary celebration that was forced to adapt because of the pandemic.
“I hope it shows the community that during this pandemic we really are preparing for a safe return and are committed to continuing to serve as a community cultural destination,” said Messing.
Related: Muskegon Civic Theatre will not reopen until 2021
In recent years, the center has been an economic driver for Muskegon, Jacobs said, in addition to bringing “high quality performing arts” to the area. The Community Foundation estimates that 61,000 people -- an annual amount they expect to eclipse in the near future -- attended events at the Frauenthal Center in 2019.
“It’s important we preserve this for all those reasons,” Jacobs said.
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