The auditorium at Bloomfield Township Town Hall is getting a refresh.
By: Mary Beth Almond | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published October 15, 2024
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The auditorium in Bloomfield Township Hall will be getting some renovations later this year.
The Board of Trustees unanimously voted, with Trustee Stephanie Fakih absent, to approve the department of cable and community relations’ request to approve capital expenditures for renovations of the auditorium and updates to technology.
Carrie LeZotte, the director of cable and community relations, said that even though the update was her idea — and money is coming from Public, Educational, and Governmental funds — the project involves many people.
“It really was a team effort. Many good minds, many good ideas in making this happen,” LeZotte said.
The township agreed to hire Lindhout Associates Architects for just under $159,000 for the auditorium renovations — which will include new paint, resurfacing of wood surfaces, new chairs for trustees and new chairs for audience members. The current chairs are estimated to be nearly 30 years old.
Trustees also agreed to hire Advanced Lightning and Sound for just over $171,000 to update the auditorium’s lighting; install new robotica and document cameras, and new audio support; and provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant headsets, a flat-surface podium, and monitors to replace the current projection system.
“A lot of these things that we’re updating you won’t be able to see,” LeZotte said. “We are providing trustees with new chairs and iPads, so those are really tangible things. The audio will be better and new cameras throughout.”
Those who attend township meetings or watch them online will notice a new color scheme in the auditorium — with light green chairs, gray walls and a blue accent wall behind the dais. The dais will also be updated to cover the dated oak finish and to add a township seal to the center.
“People are going to notice,” Trustee Neal Barnett said. “The entire experience is going to be so much better because of improved video and improved sound — which are both extremely dated — whether it’s the experience in the auditorium or the experience of people watching at home.”
Barnett said he has long felt the sound quality of township meetings is “poor” due to the dated equipment.
“It’s just old equipment, so it’s really going to be a tremendous improvement,” he said.
LeZotte is currently in the ordering phase.
“We’re hoping that everything arrives so that the installation can happen in December. I think there’s a meeting that gets skipped in December and then we’ll be ready for the New Year with a new room,” she said.
“It’s very exciting,” said Township Supervisor Dani Walsh.
“I look forward to seeing it,” Trustee Valerie Murray added.
For more information, visit www.bloomfieldtwp.org or call the township at (248) 433-7700.