Duluth DDA to Select Firm to Design Red Clay Addition

The Duluth Downtown Development Authority (DDA) hopes to select a firm to design an addition to the Red Clay Theatre on Main Street at its April 19 meeting. The DDA recently voted to issue a call for RFQs (request for qualifications) to architectural firms. The DDA’s decision will be based on the qualifications of the firms and experience with similar projects. City staff will review the RFQs and recommend the top firms to the DDA.

The DDA had planned to review the RFQs it received at its March 15 meeting, but Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee announced that the call was being expanded to invite more firms. Issuing the call for a RFQ was approved at the DDA’s Feb. 16 meeting. 

McGahee reported that 16 firms had responded by Tuesday (April 5). The city had placed the request for RFQs on a statewide procurement list. “We wanted to reach out and get as wide a distribution as possible,” McGahee said.

Estimated cost of designing and building the Red Clay Theatre addition is about $440,000. The DDA has funds available to cover the addition and possibly a marquee.

The end of the Red Clay Theatre building was demolished after it suffered irreparable damage from rain and flooding in the fall of 2009. That end of the theatre is temporarily sealed off from the elements. The Red Clay Theatre’s lobby and stage were not damaged so performances have been continuing. Restrooms adjacent to the lobby were demolished, so patrons have had to use other restrooms in the basement.

The proposed 2,200-square-foot theatre addition includes a box office, multi-purpose pre-function area, administrative offices, and restrooms. The pre-function area would be designed so it could be converted into a two-bay retail space in case the theatre ceased to function in the future.

The Red Clay Theatre is located next to a Pure Taqueria restaurant under construction at the corner of Main Street and Ga. Hwy. 120. Plans for the theatre addition were scaled back to accommodate the restaurant. An alleyway will separate the new restaurant and the theatre building. 

If everything goes as planned, construction on the addition would begin this summer with completion anticipated in five months.