Vinton Town Council members and the town leadership team were treated to a progress tour of
the ongoing renovations at the Vinton War Memorial on June 9. Town Manager Pete Peters,
Capital Projects Director Jamie Hurt, and Director of Cultural Placemaking and Events Mandy
Adkins led the tour, giving a final glimpse of the work that is nearly complete on the electrical,
heating, lighting, flooring, fire suppression, and other key systems before the walls are closed up
and the next phase of renovations begins– replacing and reworking what has been removed– and
decorating.
of the building. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Hurt said that the goal of the project is to restore the historic charm of the exterior of the facility
built in 1948, making no major changes there, while creating a visually pleasing interior space
with state-of-the art equipment and design– to maintain the historic look outside while
modernizing the interior.
Initially the project was to complete cosmetic renovations to the building, while leaving the
footprint unchanged, and updating what has changed code-wise in the past decades.
When completed there will be new paint, new floors, new windows, and new draperies
throughout the building, with a new roof and a new pergola. Second floor staff offices and the
bridal suite area are being extensively renovated. (In the distant past the fire chief occupied that
space.)
The Vinton War Memorial is one of the town’s most beloved structures– if not the most. Many
have attended weddings, parties, showers, and meetings there and have a sentimental attachment
to the venue, especially the beautiful Grand Ballroom. (Adkins says that the facility usually hosts
over 200 events each year and with a new fee schedule, expects to host even more once the
building reopens.)
Thankfully, Hurt, Town Council, and town staff share that desire to maintain history while
bringing the interior up to standard with the most advanced technology and innovative materials
available.
Never fear– the fireplace where thousands of photos have been taken remains in place in the
ballroom. The room will be enhanced with one of the most spectacular ceilings available. The
video and sound systems are being replaced with the most up-to-date technology to be found.
Town Manager Pete Peters led a renovations tour of the Vinton War Memorial before the walls
are closed up. An enormous light fixture and the bulkhead the ceiling will attach to are still
visible.
The bid summary of the project states that the project includes renovations of the first and second
floors of the existing building, minor structural repairs in the basement, minor renovations to the
building’s exterior finishes, new exterior doors and windows, and minor renovations to site
lighting and hard surfaces adjacent to the building.
Another goal of the project has been meticulous attention to detail. Hurt says they have made
every effort to minimize what might detract from the Vinton War Memorial experience on a
visual basis, by minimizing elements such as excessive numbers of electrical outlets or
sprinklers, more than are needed, hiding audio-visual equipment in the walls and ceiling, and
installing sliding walls between the two main rooms which are more manageable for those
setting up for an event.
Hurt says that as the interior was being demolished, problem areas with windows, doors, roofing,
ceilings, and other elements were uncovered resulting in some necessary change orders in the
project and unexpected expenses. Some original wood needed to be replaced. The elevator
between the basement and second floor did not need to be replaced, just upgraded. Hurt says
replacing the entire elevator control system would have slowed the project significantly and
increased the burden on the taxpayer-dollar.
The kitchen on the first floor remains. One of its improvements is removal of some ductwork and
ventilation equipment from the roof, and a hopeful resale of an overlarge, unused flat grill. Hurt
says the town has been able to sell many items and save money on the project.
Removal of the windows revealed an antiquated lead weight system was used to raise and lower
them and needed to be replaced. (During the last renovations in 2007, lower grade vinyl
windows were used.) The new windows will be anodized aluminum on the exterior with wood
inside.
One of the few noticeable exterior changes will be the replacement of the pergola with a
retractable polycarbonate roof to provide shade when desired for events which extend outdoors.
The columns have also been moved to provide more space. Some of the outdoor lighting has
been replaced for appearance and utility.
With so many exciting renovation and building projects underway in Vinton– the installation of
the multigenerational park, the construction of the Vinton hotel, the addition of a disc golf course
on the greenway along with other greenway improvements, the extensive renovations at historic
Gish Mill, the addition of new businesses and relocation of existing businesses, there was
another location of interest this week in town– what appear to be the first steps in the addition of
the approved and permitted Wawa convenience store in the space once occupied by Rite-Aid at the intersection of Hardy Road and Clearview Drive. Trucks were on-site this week, seemingly
disconnected utility services. And– for seafood lovers– the parking lot was poured at the new
Long John Silver’s.
