One of Sioux
Falls' most
historic
buildings is
getting a
facelift.
The old
Sioux Falls
Coliseum in
downtown was
built in
1917 for
less than
$100,000.
But for the past five years, the county has been working to restore the old structure to its original splendor at the tune of $700,000. And now the final phase is just about complete.
It's been a tall order, but crews are putting some of the finishing touches on the newly renovated Coliseum.
"In the 1990's, Minnehaha County and the city decided to restore the inside, and then a committee of ladies got together and decided why stop with with the inside, let's go for the outside," Dianne Metli, a member of the Coliseum Exterior Restoration Committee, said.
Right now, workers are replacing the architectural metal flashing on the Coliseum's peak. The idea is to make it look exactly like it did when it was first built.
"We need to keep our historical buildings. This building certainly has a lot of history. We've had presidents stop in in the early 1900's, meetings are held here and it's a piece of the puzzle that forms our downtown and leads into our downtown area and we just need to keep these buildings," Metli said.
In the 1990's, the coliseum was almost demolished.
"The roof was falling in and it was in great disrepair and there was an outcry from the public. It was put to a public vote and it was voted to save it," Metli said.
Crews will also restore the original medallion that hangs just above the new canopy. Plus the county wants to replace the old North Wind Face that was at the very top of the structure when it was first built.
"We've been working on this for about five years now and we're finally seeing it come to fruition and it's so exciting," Metli said.
The county also replaced some of the stained-glass windows, did some tuck pointing on the outside and still needs to replace some of the outside light fixtures.
The Coliseum currently houses the Multi-Cultural Center.
1917 for
less than
$100,000.
But for the past five years, the county has been working to restore the old structure to its original splendor at the tune of $700,000. And now the final phase is just about complete.
It's been a tall order, but crews are putting some of the finishing touches on the newly renovated Coliseum.
"In the 1990's, Minnehaha County and the city decided to restore the inside, and then a committee of ladies got together and decided why stop with with the inside, let's go for the outside," Dianne Metli, a member of the Coliseum Exterior Restoration Committee, said.
Right now, workers are replacing the architectural metal flashing on the Coliseum's peak. The idea is to make it look exactly like it did when it was first built.
"We need to keep our historical buildings. This building certainly has a lot of history. We've had presidents stop in in the early 1900's, meetings are held here and it's a piece of the puzzle that forms our downtown and leads into our downtown area and we just need to keep these buildings," Metli said.
In the 1990's, the coliseum was almost demolished.
"The roof was falling in and it was in great disrepair and there was an outcry from the public. It was put to a public vote and it was voted to save it," Metli said.
Crews will also restore the original medallion that hangs just above the new canopy. Plus the county wants to replace the old North Wind Face that was at the very top of the structure when it was first built.
"We've been working on this for about five years now and we're finally seeing it come to fruition and it's so exciting," Metli said.
The county also replaced some of the stained-glass windows, did some tuck pointing on the outside and still needs to replace some of the outside light fixtures.
The Coliseum currently houses the Multi-Cultural Center.
