Sly Fox

The following item turned up in my email today.  This will probably come as good news to those of us who have remarked on how uncomfortable it gets in the Fox in hot weather.  What I found interesting (especially in light of the radical right's view that energy conservation is somehow subversive) is the decision to replace their incandescent blubs with LEDs and CFLs.  Like most businesses, the Fox understands how much they can reduce their operating expenses with relatively straightforward energy conservation measures.

Here's the press release:

The Fabulous Fox Theatre Undergoing Several Renovation Projects

St. Louis, MO / July 2011 - The Fabulous Fox Theatre is currently in the middle of a seven-week summer hiatus in order to put in place $2 million worth of improvements to the venerable theatre in Grand Center.

The most notable of these projects is the replacement of the theatre’s air conditioning system, some parts of which were still the original equipment installed in 1929.  The old system has already been dismantled and pulled out of the theatre through the basement and roof. It is being replaced with a new, state of the art system that has been fabricated specifically for the Fox Theatre.

In addition to the new air conditioning system, LED lighting for energy conservation will be installed in several areas of the theatre.  The replacement of 2,200 incandescent bulbs and 120 florescent fixtures with more efficient versions will reduce wattage use by 85% – taking it from 77,000 to 11,400 when the theatre is fully lit.  Together, the air conditioning and lighting updates are expected to reduce the Fox’s energy consumption by half!

The most visible change to the public will be the creation of a Grand Boulevard façade that will be consistent across the frontage of the Fox Theatre and its adjacent buildings, including the Humbolt office building at the corner of Grand and Washington.  New glass storefronts and decorative awnings will be installed and an ornamental balcony will be added to the Humbolt building.

During this time the grand Fox Theatre lobby ceiling is also being repaired from the fire damage sustained in May.  Damaged portions of the elaborate plaster work are being replaced by creating molds from the unharmed sections and the lobby ceiling mural is receiving a major paint touch up to restore it to its pre-fire splendor.

Additionally the beautiful and massive Fox Chandelier will be lowered for cleaning and relamping.  The 12-foot in diameter, 5,280 pound chandelier is made of gilded pot metal with 2,264 pieces of jeweled glass and illuminated by 259 light bulbs.

Also receiving additional improvements and updates are the lobby concessions area, the catering kitchen and the Fox Club box seating area.