Project: 1900 Opera Block - Pella Opera House Restoration, Pella, Iowa

Client: Wetherall Ericsson Architects, Des Moines, Iowa

Completed: 1990

This building was in poor condition prior to our design for its reconstruction and renovation. It had not been used as an opera house for a number of years, and the main floor was most recently used as retail space, having housed a Coast to Coast Store. The original east, north and west exterior walls were retained and restored, and the 2nd floor opera space and balcony were completely removed and replaced by new construction to provide the proper floor slopes for the original sight lines and to ensure adequate floor load capacity for safe usage and code compliance. The original tin ceiling of the opera space was retained and restored after a new roof was constructed.

The Pella Opera Block Building now functions as an important part of the Pella community as a first-class functioning performance space with banquet facilities on the first floor.