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When Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2009 Summer Festival kicks off on Friday, patrons will see a hint of new things to come at the A.H. and Theo Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola. Architectural renderings displayed in the lobby will show how the performing arts center will look following a major renovation and expansion project.

It will be the first major renovation for the venue, which has served as the performance home of Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) for the company’s entire 37-year history. Built in 1971 on the Simpson College campus, the two-level, multiuse building also serves as the hub of activities for the college’s performing arts department as well as for community events.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Robert Montana, DMMO’s director of development and community relations. “It’s gaining momentum, and we’re excited to see it moving from concept to actually happening. It’s really going to be an exciting time for us.”

The $6.3 million phase one, the first of two phases planned, calls for expanding the concrete structure by 16,000 square feet. A new stage lighting system, upgraded electrical wiring and new seating will be installed in the theater, along with new carpeting in the lobby. New restrooms and an elevator will also be installed to make the facility handicapped-accessible. More classrooms and conference rooms will be added, and a new front entrance will be built with drive-up access from a new parking lot on the south side of the building.

“Certainly one of the biggest things it will provide for us is a ‘front door,'” said Bob Lane, Simpson’s vice president for college advancement. “Right now, you look at (the entrances on two levels) and it’s kind of hard to figure out.”

Simpson plans to incorporate green building techniques and features into the project and will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In April, Simpson applied to the Vision Iowa board for $1.8 million in Community Attraction and Tourism funds, which Lane said is the first time, to his knowledge, that the private college has sought Vision Iowa funding. The project is now undergoing a comprehensive review and scoring process by the Vision Iowa board.

Receiving the Vision Iowa grant is “very important for the project to go forward in a timely fashion,” Lane said. “We’re obviously hopeful and we believe that it fits into the criteria, but obviously that’s their decision, not ours.” The college won’t begin construction until the full project cost is raised, Lane said.

The largest private commitment to the project, $1.5 million, was made by the Myron & Jacqueline Blank Fund. The city of Indianola and Warren County have each committed $10,000, and the project has also received a federal appropriation of nearly $287,000.

A future second phase would expand the northwest and north side of the building to increase the stage space and storage areas for the opera.

Another major construction project planned for the campus is a new multimillion-dollar campus/student center. “We hope the excitement this project generates with construction activity will generate some momentum for the campus center,” Lane said.

Though DMMO hasn’t made a specific dollar commitment to the theater project, it is focused on raising enough to pay for the lighting system, which will cost between $250,000 and $350,000, Montana said.

“Currently we are spending $20,000 to $30,000 each year to (lease lighting) to add to our current lighting system,” he said. “This way, it would be a permanent fixture on the stage for Des Moines Metro Opera and Simpson theater productions to use.”

Beyond facility fund raising, the opera company is doing very well financially despite tough economic times, Montana said. As of early June, DMMO had raised approximately 93 percent of its $1 million fund-raising goal, and is at about 90 percent of its 2009 ticket sales goal.

“A lot of people are just simply amazed how well Des Moines Metro Opera is doing, because even the Met (The Metropolitan Opera in New York City) has felt the impact,” he said. “It really comes down to this community and the respect they have for our productions. I always say, ‘If we can get them here and see just one production, we’ve got ’em.”

Current DMMO donors have already received letters seeking support for the project, and a letter will go out to all ticket buyers seeking a pledge or donation after the season ends on July 12, Montana said.

“They will have just been in our theater, so it’s the perfect time to go back to them and ask their support for this project,” he said.