Excitement building around Art Deco renovation of Carrie Lee Auditorium

What started out as a pretty straightforward Carrie Lee Auditorium renovation consisting of painting, new lighting, rail replacement/additions and new seating, has taken on a whole new dimension. The Decorah School Board was thrilled Monday night to hear that the project has taken on an Art Deco look that will recapture the 1922 period of the original space.

Constance Johnson, an interior design specialist who has recently moved to Decorah, has within the last several weeks volunteered her services to the renovation. She was present at the School Board meeting Monday night, at the invitation of Superintendent Mike Haluska, to update the board on the new twists. Johnson is a friend of Carrie Lee Principal Cheryl Miller.

Johnson has been working with color schemes, pilasters, contracting an 88 foot fresco, purchasing reproduction wallpaper, and retrofitting the original globe lighting. Superintendent Haluska and the board were very enthusiastic about the direction of the project, and Haluska also expressed surprise at how low the costs were coming in for these new efforts.

Fundraising for the project continues as several opportunities arise for the public to see mock ups of the auditorium renovation. Haluska said that an initial $50,000 had been given to the project, another $50,000 has been raised,and another $50,000 is being sought. School officials are hopeful for a mid February completion of the project.