Edward C. Smith Civic Center renovations unveiled
(From left) Laura Turlington, Greg Turlington, Seth Turlington, Ava Turlington, Meg Turlington Holshouser, Paula Turlington and Mike Turlington stand in the newly added Turlington Annex at the Edward C. Smith Civic Center in Lexington. {Vikki Hodges/Davidson Local}
With some major renovations now complete, the Edward C. Smith Civic Center is once again taking reservations for live theater, concerts, film screenings, meetings, weddings, receptions, and other special events.
The newly refurbished and expanded civic center, at 217 S. Main St., was dedicated Friday at an event attended by former and current Lexington City Council members, former and current board of directors of “The Smith,” city of Lexington staff, as well as representatives of Ramsay-Burgin-Smith Architects and S&S Building and Development, the general contractor.
The transformation includes updates to the lobby, kitchen and rest rooms. Additionally, the civic center was expanded into part of an adjacent building that was donated to the city by the Turlington family in 2018. The Turlington Annex includes a small meeting space with a bar, seating area, television and large windows in the front. The walls are exposed brick with an industrial chic wood, metal bar and faux pressed tin ceiling. Additional rest rooms are also part of the expansion.
Two large rest rooms, which are handicapped accessible, have been added to the civic center as part of an expansion. {Vikki Hodges/Davidson Local}
The lobby floor, once carpeted, has been replaced with terrazzo tile in a gray and white geometric pattern in keeping with the Art Deco style of the civic center. The catering kitchen has a new floor, ceiling and gleaming, stainless steel appliances. The rest rooms, old and new, are all American with Disabilities Act compliant.
Suzie Zimmerman, executive director of the civic center, got choked up as she spoke about how the upgrades revealed Friday are the same ones she felt needed to be addressed when she was interviewing for her position four years ago.
“I really want to thank everyone who was involved,” she said.
Lexington Mayor Newell Clark gave a brief history of the civic center, noting it was the former Carolina Theatre that was part of an entire block that included apartments, apparel stores, a meat market and offices. A fire in 1945 devastated the area but the Carolina Theatre reopened in 1948, as well as other businesses, due to the “unquenchable faith” of leaders in the community, according to a public news source archives.
Clark lauded the Turlington family for that same faith in the Lexington community through their philanthropy and volunteer work.
“I think a lot of positive events will take place here,” the mayor predicted.
This bar is located in the new Turlington Annex of the civic center. {Vikki Hodges/Davidson Local}
Mike Turlington said he thought the architects and contractors did a phenomenal job in renovating and expanding the civic center.
“I hope this is something the community can be proud of for a long time,” he said, noting his late father, Bill, was a founding member of Uptown Lexington, the nonprofit revitalization organization. Turlington has also served as a board member of the civic center and Uptown Lexington, as well as his son, Greg.
Terra Greene, Lexington’s city manager, highlighted the city council’s commitment to several quality of life improvements in recent years.
“This will make it even more of a destination,” Greene said of the civic center upgrades and expansion.
She noted the council has focused on leveraging the arts to spur economic growth. Greene stated the improved civic center will not only provide a forum for high-caliber productions from groups such as the community theater, Lexington Live, but also provide patrons with a better experience. Lexington Live has scheduled its production of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” for September and “Into the Woods” for May 2022.
The city manager also expressed the civic center can serve as a bridge between uptown Lexington and the Depot District, which includes the Breeden Insurance Amphitheater. The outdoor venue hosts live musical acts.
About two-thirds of the donated Turlington building is still available for development, Greene said, noting there is a space between the new restrooms in the annex that could be opened to allow access to the civic center from the other side.
“We’ll have to see what entrepreneurs come up with,” she said. “It could be restaurant space, but there may be other purposeful uses, too.”
To book an event at the civic center, including the 1,100-seat auditorium and the ballroom, which has a capacity of up to 150 people, contact Zimmerman at (336) 249-7875 or info@smithciviccenter.org.
