New $15 million upgrade project at VBC to be completed in July

A cool expansion project is happening at the VBC. (Hville Blast)

The City of Huntsville allocated $15 million for an expansion project at the Von Braun Center, namely the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, and the project is set for completion in July.

The expansion to the concert hall is part of an ongoing — and much needed — facelift for the VBC, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last week.

Here’s what to know:

VBC upgrades focus on Mark C. Smith Concert Hall

this weekend — The Mark C. Smith Concert Hall improvements aim to attract more shows to the VBC. (Michael Seale / Hville Blast)

Upgrades to the VBC have been ongoing for a couple of years now, with a $4.5 million renovation of the center’s kitchen facilities already underway and ballroom expansion already on the books.

The focus right now is on the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.

The project includes a 12,000-square-foot addition to the facility of about 12,000 square feet as well as about 6,000 square feet of renovated backstage space.

The planned improvements for the concert hall follow upgrades completed in 2021 that included new steel rigging with new line sets over the stage, a new truss over the orchestra pit, new audio points so speakers are hung rather than stacked on stage and more power for audio and truss hoists.

Von Braun Center Executive Director Steve Maples said the improvements could be a prelude to iconic Broadway shows like “Phantom of the Opera” or “The Lion King” playing in Huntsville.

Maples said representatives from the “Phantom of the Opera” production in New York traveled to Huntsville to review the concert hall and recommended enhancements.

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