The LPCA Auditorium, which was built in the 1970s, is a well-loved space in much need of the renovations that will be coming in the fall. The building is seen here Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Grace McIntyre)

LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid Center for the Arts has been making it work for years, even if it means making do without equipment or amenities that would improve the operations of its varied programs. However, saying “yes” without proper infrastructure takes its toll.

“We were running up against walls,” LPCA Director of Communications Alison Simcox said. “Not having enough space or the right types of spaces, the right types of equipment and the right infrastructure and all that.”

Now, the LPCA is preparing to break ground this fall on a much-anticipated renovation of its performance, rehearsal and gallery building. The project will aim to convert a 50-year-old building into a space that better serves its current function while also creating new opportunities for the arts in Lake Placid.

The Center for Music, Drama and Art opened in December 1972. The name later changed to the Lake Placid Center for the Arts in January 1984. The LPCA is home to a variety of arts offerings, including exhibits, classes, artist residencies, performances and more. The organization also owns Gallery 46 on Main Street, which works with professional artists around the Adirondacks.

In 2023, the LPCA received a $7.5 million grant from the state Council on the Arts capital projects fund. At the time, the plan was to build a new building in place of the annex building. However, Simcox said that after several stages of planning, they decided to shift their approach.

“Part of that planning helped us to realize that instead of building new, the best choice would be to use as much as we can from the existing buildings — and renovate extensively — but to help us with sustainability and cost to really use as much as we can.”

Now the plan is to renovate the theater building instead. The project will start with demolition on the inside in the fall, and bigger changes to the exterior will be started in the spring of 2026. Simcox said the goal is to complete the project by the summer of 2027 so that only one summer of programming will be affected by the renovations.

The LPCA is still in the private phase of its fundraising campaign, so Simcox was unable to share details about the total cost of the project and the progress toward the fundraising goal. More information about the financial picture will be available when the project breaks ground in September.

The goal is to keep what people love about the arts center, like the size and “intimate character” of the performance space while making it more accessible and functional. The building has five different levels that sometimes require people to go outside to get from one place to another. The renovated space will be fully accessible, with an elevator, Simcox said.

This renovation is long overdue. The infrastructure is in constant danger of failing — last summer they had to cancel a few weeks of programs because the air conditioning broke and it was too hot inside. Renovating now will save them money on repairs in the long run.

“The building is at the point now where this is not a ‘nice to have,’ you know? It’s really a must-do,” Simcox said. “This is the moment it has to happen.”

Some of the most exciting parts of the project may sound simple, like closet space and room for equipment. However, these are the kinds of things that keep things running smoothly. Simcox estimated that they could have up to 100 extra days of performances each year, and their classrooms will have room for twice as many students.

The Lake Placid-North Elba joint Planning Review Board has been in the process of reviewing the renovation plans. Codes and Zoning Coordinator Barry Sears confirmed that the board has reviewed the application and completed a site visit. Beyond meeting the board’s requirements, public feedback has been a key element of planning this project, from the beginning.

“We’ve been working to make sure that we’re listening to lots of voices all along,” Simcox said. “The whole point is to make sure that people still feel like this art center is for them, and that it has everything that they want and need.”

There will be a public hearing for the project at the North Elba Town Hall starting at 5:30 p.m. on July 2 — as part of the review board’s normal meeting. Comments can be given during the hearing or emailed to the building department. Information about the plan can be viewed on the town of North Elba website.

While the project is in process, Simcox also emphasized that the LPCA will continue all of its programs. More information about alternate locations will be forthcoming. The center is also planning a summer block party on Aug. 19, as a bit of a goodbye to the space as it is.

“We cannot wait to share an upgraded, fully accessible arts center with the community that will be a resource for many decades to come,” Jon Donk, LPCA’s managing director, said in a statement.