The Palladium Renovation begins.
Today’s PalladiumPaul blog was written by Damon Dougherty, the Palladium’s Director of Operations, who has been leading our renovation planning process.
Dear Friends,
Our Concert Hall is a Musical Instrument:
Guitar strings sound lifeless before their sonic vibrations enter the body of the guitar – then resonating and projecting the warm and familiar sound we love.
Similarly, the string struck by a piano hammer would not delight but for its connection to the sound board of the piano.
Just like the guitar, the piano, or any other musical instrument, space in which a sound is created transforms that sound before it reaches the listener.
A room or concert hall can support or distort musical intention, and the Palladium is on a mission to improve artist and audience experience – eliminating distortions.
We are happy to report that our concert hall renovation – focused on seating, sightlines and acoustics – is underway.
The “Century of Skinner” farewell concert in May, celebrated music and performers from the E.M. Skinner organ’s 100-year history.
The American Guild of Organists brokered a serendipitous solution for rehoming the original-condition elements of our 1925 instrument to St. Thomas Episcopal on St. Petersburg’s Snell Isle, where a Skinner organ of same era sought enhancement and plays regularly.
The Palladium’s organ loft, now emptied of its content, serves with renewed purpose, providing:
- Increased room volume – complementary to orchestral and vocal presentations
- Additional stage area
- Rear-orchestra-view seating
- And more!!!
As Well:
Thanks to the Palladium’s educational mission, realized and supported through St. Petersburg College’s performing arts technology program (MIRA), and a $250,000 grant from the Florida Department of Education, the Palladium have installed state-of-the-art audio mixing systems: Yamaha Rivage PM5, DM7 and DM3 which provide opportunity for students to gain experience on the professional equipment they are to encounter in their careers while working alongside local and touring performing arts professionals in their internships at the Palladium.
The full Concert Hall Renovation – design complete, will be reviewing construction manager proposals this year with a planned construction start for July 2026.
Please consider our local performing arts with a philanthropic contribution: LEARN MORE!
Anchors Aweigh!
Damon J. Dougherty
Director of Operations, The Palladium at St. Petersburg College
and Professor of Live Sound Reinforcement & Broadcast Audio, St. Petersburg College
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