Now that the final note has died away from the final Casual Classics concert by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (for the record, it was the conclusion of John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever”) on Sunday afternoon, it’s time for some different sounds at Powell Symphony Hall. This time, they’re the sounds of construction work.
All of the restrooms will be renovated this summer and next. Happily (for anyone who’s ever had to stand in those lines), this year’s project is to fix the women’s loos on the main orchestra and balcony levels. The men will just have to wait for 2010, when the mezzanine women’s rooms will also be redone.
The SLSO is promising lighter, brighter, cleaner and otherwise updated facilities. The orchestra level restroom will get more stalls and be rendered wheelchair accessible, as an awkward step is eliminated. The staff kitchenette on the seventh floor of the offices is also on this summer’s list of shovel-ready (well, hammer-ready) projects.
The long lines at Friday morning Coffee Concerts may not be eliminated, but at least they should be reduced when the season opens in September.