Powers reveals an old face

By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
HE SHEER BLACK MATERIAL that had been draped across the front of Edward W. Powers Auditorium for many weeks had to go.
Stagehands were poised on the roof Thursday morning, ready to pull the covering upward and give the public its first glimpse of the newly restored facade.
The cloth caught on something near the top of the building. It took some extra pulling and tugging, but the workers got the job done with little delay and much fanfare. They received another cheer when one of them hoisted an American flag into the air.
The process of liberating the original Powers facade from its slate covering of the past 30 years began during the summer, cost about $250,000 and is tied to Youngstown Symphony Society's $8.6 million expansion and renovation campaign.
The grimy gray hue of the previous facade, which had been installed in 1969 as the former Warner Theater was being transformed into the symphony center, is gone. Now the main entrance, which faces West Federal Street, harkens back to the days when the Warner Theater opened in 1931.
The precast concrete has a salmon tint. It's flecked with black and white quartz chips. Original double-hung windows on the second and third floors have been uncovered and reglazed. Decorative stone panels have been cleaned and, where necessary, replicated.
"I think it adds something to our cityscape. It's nice to see us restoring a building," given how many other downtown structures haven't been saved, said Patricia Syak, the symphony's executive director. Her husband, Harry A. Syak, is chairman of the society's capital campaign.
It's the events, not the facade, that attract people to Powers, Patricia Syak noted. "We hope the exterior of the building adds a little excitement to your visit downtown," she said.
What's next
The next phase in the Powers renovation is remodeling of the second and third floors, which will be known as the Adler Art Academy and become the home of YSU's SMARTS program and Arts Council of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Because the original windows were uncovered, the academy space now has natural lighting, Patricia Syak said.
Academy remodeling is scheduled for completion next spring.
Isaiah Jackson, music director of Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, emphasized the role of arts in downtown revitalization.
"People believe in what's happening. People believe it's going to happen," Jackson said.
Asked about the pace of change in the downtown landscape, Jackson compared the process to a campfire. It takes kindling, a spark and some patience to start a fire. One log or twig alone doesn't make it work. It takes synergy, and a good draft.
"That's what I feel blowing on the back of my neck," Jackson said, smiling.
shaulis@vindy.com