Britain Electric was selected as the electrical contractor for the $46.5 million theater renovation that included all new lighting systems (both architectural and theatrical), control systems, fire alarm, sound systems, and large scale scenery hoist equipment and controls. This was the first major upgrade to the facility since it opened in 1968.
The schedule was strictly limited to a 12 month completion time due to the national theater productions already scheduled to take place in the facility. An additional challenge was the age of the existing systems and how to adapt the historic structure for new electrical technologies. This required careful planning, precise execution and close communication with all sub-contractors, the general contractor and the facility owner.
Our success on this project resulted in Britain Electric being asked to restore and repair the electrical systems in the building after hurricane Harvey left 17 feet of water in the theater basement. The Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage was flooded and most of the theatre's prop collection, dating back to the 1940s, was destroyed. Also destroyed was the entire electrical service and distribution systems. We again had a very tight schedule of 5 months to complete all of the work and ensure the theater could reopen in time for the annual production of A Christmas Carol, one of their most important revenue sources of the year.
Once again Britain rose to the challenge by establishing multiple work crews who all carefully coordinated and were committed to getting the theater open by the Friday after Thanksgiving.
