AMES – The Stephens Auditorium is known for its unique architecture. Built back in 1969, the theater is almost 50 years old and was designed with tons of stairs.
When the auditorium was built, it had wheelchair seating on all four floors, but due to changing fire codes, that isn’t allowed anymore.
Because of the stairs, and limited wheelchair accessibility, one Iowans has stopped going to shows there. She says she won’t go back until better seating is available to her.
“The last time I was here a couple years ago they had said they hoped to have the venue worked on when the could close it for a couple weeks,” said Ames resident, Shelley Jaspering. “They had some plans, but it was going to take a lot of work though.”
It’s going to take work and money to renovate C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Iowa State and building officials say because of its age, it was not constructed to today’s standards of accessibility.
“The stairs won’t ever go away, it’s part of the beauty and architecture of the building,” said the Executive Director, Tammy Koolbeck.
But for Shelley, the wheelchair options are so bad she has stopped going to shows.
“Even in the accessible seating that they do have in the back row, if somebody stands up in the row right in front of the back row I can’t see,” said Jaspering. “So if it’s a concert people are going to be standing and I can’t ask them to not be standing and dancing and having a good time.”
Plans are in the works to improve seating for Shelley and others who may be held back because of the stairs and limited wheelchair spots. The auditorium says they currently only have room for six wheelchairs.
“We are looking at and have plans drawn to increase out seating in rows 32-33, to pretty much double that area,” said Koolbeck. “Then take out rows 10-11 on the west side of the building and probably about halfway into the house and pick up wheelchair seating down there.”
Shelley says this plan would help her see the performances better.
“So they have a side entrance to row 11 and so I am hoping they will work up in that area,” said Jaspering. “I have seen that done in other venues to make some closer seating.”
But it’s going to take funds. They estimate it will cost between $200,000 – $250,000 to add handrails in certain sections and construct wheelchair platforms.
“We may do one and then the other,” said Koolbeck. “Certainly from a venue management perspective both need to be done.”
In the end, Shelley says she will wait for the project to be completed before she goes back to Stephens.
“I feel like I want to go to things and I am never going to get out of this chair,” said Japering.
Officials at the university and auditorium say some funds have been raised, but they still need a lot more before they can renovate. They say once they have enough money, the project should take less than a year to complete.
ISU’s official statement from John McCarroll, University Relations Executive Director:
