La Crosse Center to get $45-million facelift

Council approved $35 million in
borrowing, hopes for more from state

The La Crosse Center is on its way to getting a facelift.

Thursday night, the La Crosse city council approved $35 million in borrowing for renovations to the civic center. 

“This is development inside the city that it will certainly benefit, not only the city of La Crosse and the taxpayers but also the region,” council member Fran Formanek said. 

The action also calls for another $10 million in funding from the state to cover the balance of the expansion plus any contingencies.

That, however, is not money that’s guaranteed and hasn’t even been applied for yet. The current plan for the borrowing is that it would not impact the city property taxpayers but get paid back primarily through ticket surcharges and room tax revenue.

Below is the original $73 million in spending on the Center’s wishlist.

	LA CROSSE CENTER RENOVATION COST PLAN
	Highest Priorities
Internal Remodel/Renovation
$390,000.00	Exterior Doors- Replace
$560,000.00	HVAC- New building automation system
$200,000.00	AV- Upgrade video projection to 16:9
$2,840,000.00	Roof- Replace
$280,000.00	IT- Upgrade infrastructure (fiber)
$4,260,000.00	Interior- Upgrade wall finishes
$540,000.00	Telescoping seating- Replace
$1,060,000.00	Sound system- Replace
$700,000.00	Fixed seating- Replace
$100,000.00	ADA seating- Bring to compliance
$840,000.00	Restrooms- Increase capacity
$800,000.00	Concessions- Increase capacity, variety
$70,000.00	Guest Services- New spaces
$1,000,000.00	Administration- Space for CVB offices
$120,000.00	Back of House- Access to spots/fall protection
	Back of House- Fire alarm system upgrade*
$640,000.00	* No corresponding cost for this item given in the Convergence analysis
$130,000.00	Lighting- New LED
$100,000.00	Sound System- Replace
$70,000.00	Business Center- Create new space
$500,000.00	Escalators- Rehab or replace
$15,200,000.00	Internal Remodel/Renovation Total
West Side
$10,800,000.00	West Façade- New circulation, meeting rooms, (continuous balcony*)
$540,000.00	Service Level- New service corridor
$6,300,000.00	Upper Level- New ballroom
$17,640,000.00	West Side Total
$32,840,000.00	Highest Priorities Total
	Second Tier Priorities
$4,400,000.00	East Façade- New general lobby
$1,120,000.00	Exterior Signage- Large scale LED signage
$420,000.00	Exterior- Medium scale LED signs at entries
$5,940,000.00	Flow Total
$38,780,000.00	Other
$250,000.00	Sustainability- Solar/wind power, other upgrades
	LEED- Certification or LEED compatible*
	Exterior- Upgrade Façade (more brick)*
$12,800,000.00	Radisson Center- Long range land use strategy
$1,250,000.00	Parking Structure- Façade enhancements
$2,730,000.00	Parking Structure- Large scale LED display
$17,030,000.00	Other Total
$22,970,000.00	Second Tier Priorities Total
$55,810,000.00	Priorities Total
	* No corresponding cost for this item given in the Convergence analysis
	Not Prioritized
North Building
$6,500,000.00	Flexible theater- Raise roof, telescoping seats, acoustical upgrades
$100,000.00	Exhibit/show power- Upgrade
$260,000.00	Floor- New or new finish
$1,200,000.00	Entry- New lobby on 2nd St.
$30,000.00	Food Service- Permanent bar
$8,090,000.00	North Building Total
South Building and Garage
$1,260,000.00	Ballroom- Expand prefunction toward river
$50,000.00	Room signage- New LCD room signage
$450,000.00	South Hall- New telescoping portable seating
$200,000.00	Floor boxes- Replace with new
$1,960,000.00	South Building and Garage Total
Arena Upgrades
$580,000.00	Arena lighting- New LED system
$1,550,000.00	Scoreboard- New video system
$50,000.00	Seating Bowl- Deep clean and reseal
$100,000.00	Seating Bowl- Add supplement exhaust
$880,000.00	Administration- Relocate
$60,000.00	Box office- Expand to 6 windows
$500,000.00	Back of House- Improve traffic flow
$200,000.00	Back of House- Upgrade show power
$500,000.00	Back of House- Review/upgrade power building-wide
$200,000.00	Back of House- Security/ops space
$450,000.00	Back of House- Upgrade dressing rooms
$70,000.00	Back of House- New dock levelers
$5,140,000.00	Arena Upgrades Total
General Upgrades
$2,020,000.00	Furnishings – Provide nwe for addes space
$2,020,000.00	General Upgrades Total
$17,210,000.00	Total Not Prioritized
$73,020,000.00	Total Prioritized and Not Prioritized