Embedded Files
The digging, reinforcing, and preparations for building the new building inside of a building was an actual work of art, collaboration, and cooperation of the highest degree. When you start digging in a city environment, you never know what you will find or accidentally break into. There were hidden air shafts, utility lines, and weird spaces that had no explanation. There was also a lot of speculation about a time capsule in a cornerstone. Unfortunately, despite looking, they couldn’t find it. In fact, nobody could actually point to any mention of one being created or buried in the first place. Just another rumor.
Portions of the Theatre's original air handling systems, unknown and without any documentation, were very sophisticated considering the age of its design. Essentially, it was a passive natural flow of air (heat transfer) where passages and vents, and chimneys were designed to draft naturally, without the aid of too many mechanical means. There's no record or testament as to whether it worked or not. The passageways where they had connected to the giant air plenums on each side of the Theater's main room were apparent, even in ruins. I guess the natural flow of air helped by small pumps and fans that could be mustered at the time might keep the place from melting or freezing.
Nonetheless, as of the advent of rudimentary HVAC systems, I bet the place fairly well sweltered in the summertime. "I do declare. I’m feeling mighty faint!
Later, early refrigerant systems based on super funky dangerous anhydrous ammonia compressor rigs were installed, and the masses flocked to the locale for a momentary respite from the summer heat. We used to stand around in the basement smoking pot doing sound engineering stuff, you know, and these old compressors were freaking massive engines, stygian pumps, and power panels and levers. It was a great place for production meetings. HA!
While the massive new footings to support the old ones were poured, the supports for the giant steel I-beams that would eventually be erected were formed simultaneously. Who knew that concrete comes in different strengths?
I found out when I noticed this same guy, always hanging around, filling plastic jugs with concrete and labeling them. What's the deal? It turns out he's the concrete inspector! His job is to sample every load of concrete used, run some simple tests on the wet concrete and store a dried sample and its location of use for later evidence. In some areas, 3,000 PSI concrete is up to code. In others, it requires 10,000 PSI concrete! I guess there are Georgia Theatre concrete samples on file somewhere in a concrete safe. I can tell you that there is more concrete than you can possibly imagine in the new building. A volume and weight far exceeding the steel used.
The basement slab was poured on an overlay of where beams and supports would be erected later. Crucial upright beams would be bolted to a bottom footer on the remaining open areas you can see below (diamond shaped holes in later photos). After truing the upright beams to plumb, the open area would then be filled with cement to strengthen the support point further and cover the big ass hole in the floor. It's pretty amazing to see how they had to leave portions of the original brick and concrete structure used as the post-fire brick wall support structure and work around it all.
Once the debris was removed, the floor of the basement needed to be extended downward to accommodate the physical plant of the new building. The power room, portions of the HVAC, sprinkler control systems, the Production/A/V office, storage for booze and supplies, and of course the new giant bathrooms! There was going to be a lot of activity in the new basement, whereas the old basement was pretty much just used for keg storage and a cooler area, and a good place to sneak off to and do soundman stuff. HA!
Here you can get a feel for just how far down they had to dig and clear out. That's an 8' A-frame ladder. There was a basement before this digging, and the most important thing to remember is that the entire physical plant and all the bathrooms were now going to be in the basement. Before the fire, the basement was a dodgy affair. I wish I could find the pictures I took years ago. The original basement floor had been modified by placing brick pillars spaced evenly to support the steel-reinforced concrete floor that was built when the building was converted to a movie theater. It was low, dark, and dank. Some of the brick pillars were now supporting the steel frame that was added after the fire.
The Sad Tale of the Destruction of Founder's Garden
I've done a good bit searching for more information about the old garden, but haven't much. There was a historical plaque at one time in the corner of the little park/garden that documented its founding by the garden club (?) of the university. Whatever its history, it was razed!
The old Founder's Garden was another one of the victims of the fire. Not the actual flames, but the plans to build a new parking deck. The city was already slated to build a multi-story, multi-use building that would "wrap around" the theater on two sides. The back of the Theatre would be approximately 25 feet behind the new parking garage. The plan for the Theatre was to move the load-in door to the back of the building that would be accessed via a concrete ramp going down to a gated entrance at the sidewalk. The garden was going to get demolished.
The owners of the GATH also had to negotiate the lease/purchase of a strip of land 8 feet wide and 90 feet long for the said ramp. The city owned all the property behind the Theatre, right up to the back wall! Again, I was not part of that business, but I sure got an earful on how much that tiny strip of property cost.
In the end, it was a brutal razing of a ghost-like, painful old memory. I witnessed pretty much everything you can imagine in that dim space over the years after shows. Drunk college kids having sex on the bricks, crackheads torching up, and plenty of stoners too. But the worst was the bums. There was an alleyway and airspace between the Theatre and the small restaurant next door. It was the egress path of the fire exit on stage left, and it had a fence and a gate, but since it was an emergency exit, it couldn't be fenced or blocked. It was an actual, real shithole.
Nonetheless, the garden had to go. It had been constructed between the long gone Classic Triple movie theater and the Georgia Theatre many many years ago by the University Garden Society or something along those lines. Fun fact: The same outfit that initially turned the YMCA building into the Georgia Theatre was the owner and operator of the Triple Classic, The Georgia Theater Company. Not affiliated with the Georgia Theatre in any way. They brought in a big backhoe and just ripped the damn trees out by the root. It was pretty disturbing to watch. These were beautiful magnolia trees that had been there for many years. They were fine healthy trees that produced a massive amount of giant white flowers every year, and they snapped them into tiny pieces with a big machine. I guess the one saving grace, a fine selection of contemporary street art, visible in the picture on the right, long hidden from view, was now revealed for all to enjoy. HA!
I've always loved working with wood. The magnolia trees they ripped out had beautiful looking sturdy trunks, but I had no way to salvage any of it. It all got hauled away and probably shredded for mulch.
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