Best in show

Cullen sets the stage for The Armory

By Calie Johnson

With tickets sold two months prior to its opening, there wasn't much that could keep The Armory from welcoming the Janesville public on time.

It's a fact that wasn't lost on the J.P. Cullen & Sons construction crew that was trying to get the historic, military-reservists training facility converted to a 230-seat dinner theater before the curtain went up.

"It really upped the ante for us to finish in time," said Robert Coleman, Cullen's project manager. "Normally, we could have pushed things back into January or February, but we couldn't do that here."

The Armory, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has a long history in Janesville. Built in 1930, the structure was home to members of the Janesville 99, a National Guard unit that later became Company A of the 192nd Tank Battalion that fought during World War II in the Philippines.

The Rock County Historical Society took over the building in 1977 and used it as an artifact museum until 2000. From that point on, it sat abandoned until Michael Gilbertson bought it with plans for the dinner theater.

"The owner in this case was also the architect, a unique factor to work with since there are usually three people involved in the process, but here there were only two," Coleman said. "This made things a lot easier since the decision maker was always right there, and everything only had to be passed through one person."

	Project Name: The Armory Location: Janesville Submitting Company: J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Janesville General Contractor: J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc. Project Leaders: Robert Coleman, Cullen's project manager; Ken Kueng, Cullen's superintendent Architect: GA Architecture, Janesville Engineer: Angus-Young Associates AEI, Janesville Owner: The Janesville Armory, Janesville Project Cost: $2.76 million Project Size: 29,000 square feet Start Date: August 2005 Completion Date: January 2006

The transformation called for full stage presentations and two additional restaurants, and the construction team worked hard to maintain the historic integrity of the building. The vintage décor was renovated, and Cullen kept the entryways, corridors, doors, terrazzo flooring and old drill hall historically intact.

Modern elements fused with original components inside, while the exterior was meticulously preserved to maintain its period appearance.

"We really didn't encounter problems with working to preserve the original architecture," said Coleman.

But there were still challenges.

"The construction and design proceeded simultaneously," Coleman said. "Elements of the design were still being worked out while construction had already begun."

Adding to the deadline pressure was the installation of all new mechanical systems and the discovery of an uneven basement floor that didn't pitch correctly for proper drainage. Cullen had to replace the whole floor.

That added three weeks to the project and pushed it closer to its New Year's Eve mark.

But Cullen, knowing the show must go on, went with the only option it had. The revitalized building, sporting a new look with classic character, rang in the New Year in style.