Renovations ahead for the Panida

SANDPOINT — For the Panida Theater, 2014 could be the year that secures its legacy for the 21st century.

According to executive director Barry Bonifas, a host of improvements are planned for the venerable venue that will improve its durability and functionality for the next several decades. With a little luck in funding and contracting, many of those improvements will be coming down the line this year.

“Most of these (improvements) are things you won’t see, but they will give the Panida a good long-term future,” Bonifas said.

Several of these major improvements have already been finalized and installed. The new projector system installed this fall, for instance, is an important upgrade that will preserve the theater’s access to movie distribution as the industry moves fully into the digital world.

Similarly, the upgrades coming down the line will protect the historic building from physical decay and destruction. According to Bonifas, upgrades to the building’s plumbing and other infrastructure will pave the way for a sprinkler system that could be installed by late summer. With that safety measure complete, the threat of a devastating fire will be far less worrisome.

Another priority is replacing the rigging system — the support structure that holds up the curtain, lights system and more. It’s a single upgrade that will open up a multitude of enhancements, Bonifas said.

The existing rigging system is made of 100-year-old wood, and that presents some worries about its remaining life span. With a little roof work, it will be possible to replace the wooden skeleton with steel supports. After that, theater administrators can begin to explore their third phase of renovations — namely, different upgrades to the lights, curtain, sound system, stage and more.

“Much of this falls under the support we’re getting from (the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency), which is really magnificent support to have,” Bonifas said.

With the acquisition of the Little Theater, Bonifas said the board is also considering joining the two theater lobbies. The project will require altering a few walls to make a passageway, but the result will be a more open, expansive environment for pre-show socializing or special events, he said.

In the meantime, everyone is pitching in to keep the theater looking as good as possible. Board members and theater supporters, including Abby Ullman, Phyllis Goodwin, Rhea Malone, Phil Ronniger, Tari Pardini, Jill Bearden, Bill Ezell and Jim Corcoran, have combined forces and money to repaint the board room and other areas of the theater. Thanks to paint supplies courtesy of The Paint Bucket and some furniture donations, participants say the board room will soon be a great place to shape the future of the downtown landmark.