Paramount Theatre Renovation & Expansion Project 2025

Austin Area Arts is committed to ensuring that all individuals are provided with full and equal access to the programs provided by Austin Area Arts, including those of the Historic Paramount Theatre. Through an independent ADA assessment of the building in 2023, we have identified the highest priority items to address in our renovation and expansion project. This project will improve both accessibility and the experience of patrons and performers who come to our theatre.

Patron Experience

Our project will improve the patron experience by increasing the lobby size, replacing the current theatre seats with larger seats, upgrading our lighting equipment inside the theatre, and making sound system upgrades/acoustical room treatments to improve sound quality at live shows.

Performer Experience

The performer quality of experience will be improved by providing adequate green room/dressing room space that is accessible and connected to backstage. To regain wing space for performers, the grand piano storage will be relocated. The stage floor will be rebuilt and the loading dock will be relocated and designed for safe and efficient load in. Touring shows will have access to lighting and sound systems that meet modern standards in the industry.

Accessibility

The Historic Paramount Theatre was built in 1929 as a first-run movie house. Through decades of cosmetic changes, the floor plan and accessibility have not changed. Many spaces in the building do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards including restrooms, accessible theatre seating, stage access, and dressing rooms. This project will add main floor bathrooms, accessible seating areas on the first floor of the theatre, transfer armrests on some aisle seats, an accessible route to the stage, and accessible dressing rooms and performer bathrooms.

What will be the impact of this project?

This project will greatly improve the patron experience at the Paramount Theatre by providing wider theatre seats, ADA accessible seating areas, main floor restrooms, more lobby space, and a better theatre environment through sound and lighting upgrades.

We will also be making major improvements to the performer experience through creating accessible dressing rooms and restrooms, a safe and efficient loading dock, accessible stage access, rebuilding the stage floor, and having access to sound and lighting systems that meet the industry touring standards.

Total project cost = $4,317,829

A capital campaign drive is underway to help us fund this project! We have received 85% of our funding for the construction portion of the project through a generous grant from the Hormel Foundation. We plan to cover our 15% portion of the construction project along with a few other goals.

Austin Area Arts’ portion of construction costs: ~$648,000
A maintenance and repair fund: $327,000
Pay off existing mortgage of Boardwalk Properties: $225,000

Paramount Capital Campaign Goal = $1.2 million

Funds raised to date: $1,134,444

Remaining amount to raise: $65,556

As of 9/30/25

Project Donors & Supporters

The Hormel Foundation approved a grant of $3.67 million towards The Paramount Theatre renovation and expansion project. Thank you so much for your support!

$200,000+
Belita Schindler

$100,000+
Anonymous | Astrup Family Foundation/Sterling Pharmacy | LeeAnn & Jeff Ettinger | Randy & Wendy Kramer | Ruth Wunderlich Estate

$50,000+
Jim & Milly Burroughs | City of Austin | Rick & Carol Young

$25,000+
Patrick & Patty Bradley | Hanson Family Foundation | Kurt and Brenda Potach | Gary & Pat Ray | Bonnie & Tim Rietz | Cleo Softing Estate | Alberta Sorenson | Paul & Joanne Worlein

$10,000+
Carol Asleson Estate | Fred & Carolyn Bogott | Rollie & Cindy Gentzler | The Knowlton Foundation | Phil & Gail Minerich | Mahlon & Karen Schneider | Jim & Jeanne Sheehan | David Sylte

$5,000+
Akkerman Family | Austin Eagles Club | Jim & Mary Herrick | Al & Alice Holst | The Joseph Company Inc. | Stephen Neiswanger | David & Brenda Raffelson | Chet & Rae Dawn Rao | Mike & Barb Ruzek | St. Andrews Sisters | Liesl Schindler | Allen P Schulz Estate | Mary Anne & Jerry Wolesky

$2,500+
Dave & Mary Crandall | Dave & Diane Dammen | Fox Electric | Terry & Jan Fox | Harty Mechanical, Inc. | Laura Helle & Matt Stobaugh | Penny Kinney | MBT Bank | Barbara & Richard Mitchell | Mark & Gretchen Ramlo | Maureen Steenblock

$1,000+
American Legion Post 91 | Dr. Jeff & Teresa Anderson | Donald & Darlene Austin | Austin Kiwanis Club | Austin Morning Lions | Austin Noon Lions | Austin Shrine Club & Oriental Band | Austin Symphony Orchestra | Randy & Ann Bailey | Geoff & Diane Baker | Glenn and Sally Baker | Jeff & Kris Baldus | Bryan Baudler | John and Julie Beckmann | Bollingberg Chiropractic | Pat Christopherson | Robert Clarke | Gail Dennison | Carolyn & Keith Eilertson | Margaret Erickson | David Feierer | Lowell Foster | Steve & Cheryl Greenman | Lance & Sharon Hoefflin | Roger & Karen Jacobs | Steve & Dorothy Krob, in honor of Harold Davison, Paramount Projectionist | Paul & Kari Kuehneman | Miriam Luehmann | Mark & Lori Nibaur | Jeanne Poppe | Chad & Nikki Randick | Marvin & Rebecca Repinski | Doug & Bea Smith | Jerry & Ellen Stark | Bonnie & Peter Tangren | Wealth Management Solutions - Ameriprise Financial Services | Rodney & Patricia White | Tom & Shellie Wuertz

List updated as of 9/30/25

Want to contribute?

You can donate online using the button below, visit the Austin ArtWorks Center during business hours to donate in person, or mail a donation to Austin Area Arts, 300 N Main St, Austin, MN 55912. One-time or multi-year pledges gratefully accepted.

To donate shares of stock, donor-advised fund, qualified charitable IRA distributions, or other assets, contact Kelsey Ritchie 507-434-0934 or email kelsey@austinareaarts.org

Donate Now

Project Progress Photos!

Feb 1, 2025 - The start of the opening form the Annex side

Feb 1, 2025 - Annex front staircase removed

Feb 11, 2025 - Old theatre seats being removed

Feb 12, 2025 - Theatre main floor with seats removed

Feb 12, 2025 - Theatre balcony with seats removed

Feb 14, 2025 - View from the stage on the old thrust

Feb 17, 2025 - Removal of the stage thrust begins

Feb 19, 2025 - View of the stage with thrust removed

Feb 19, 2025 - Concrete removal begins for new wheelchair seating areas and sound booth

Feb 19, 2025 - View of the original orchestra pit

Feb 19, 2025 - View coming up the stairs into the original orchestra pit

Feb 25, 2025 - A view of the Annex opening with the Paramount brick exposed

Feb 25, 2025 - Progress in the theatre, laying out new walkways

Feb 26, 2025 - Framing new walkways to accessible seating

Mar 3, 2025 - Rebar ready in the walkways

Mar 3, 2025 - Discovered charred ceiling joists and evidence that the Annex structure could be connected to the historic Grand Hotel

Mar 3, 2025 - Annex west wall work complete and ready for framing

Mar 3, 2025 - View of the new lobby space in Annex

Mar 3, 2025 - New concrete poured for wheelchair seating

Mar 10, 2025 - Framing the new sound booth

Mar 10, 2025 - A look at the new restroom corridor

Mar 12, 2025 - Soffit above concessions framed

Mar 13, 2025 - Concrete poured for one of the new accessible seating areas

Mar 21, 2025 - Electrical work in the sound booth, new thrust framing has begun

Apr 2, 2025 - View of new concrete at the back of the main floor

Apr 2, 2025 - Stage thrust framing complete

Apr 2, 2025 - Up close view of the new thrust

Apr 2, 2025 - Structural steel for new opening has arrived

Apr 4, 2025 - Ready for the opening on the Paramount side

Apr 4, 2025 - Brick removal on the annex side

Apr 4, 2025 - First layer of brick removed, closer to having our buildings joined!

Apr 7, 2025 - We now have an opening between the buildings!

Apr 9, 2025 - Hello from the other side!

Apr 10, 2025 - Final concrete slabs poured

Apr 10, 2025 - Excavation work has begun for new addition

Apr 23, 2025 - Excavation progress for new addition

Apr 23, 2025 - View of structural work being completed on the north annex wall

Apr 24, 2025 - Structural beam in place for new opening

Apr 24, 2025 - Progress on original stage floor replacement

Apr 24, 2025 - View of the theatre from the stage

May 1, 2025 - Co-Chair Belita Schindler standing on the rebuilt thrust

May 1, 2025 - Piano being moved to allow room for stage and over stage work

May 2, 2025 - View of new concrete on north annex wall

May 2, 2025 - View of excavation work for new addition

May 7, 2025 - Demolition of existing annex front door

May 12, 2025 - Foundation for new addition poured and infilled

May 14, 2025 - Preparing for new windows to be installed

May 14, 2025 - Progress view of front of Paramount

May 22, 2025 - Excavation begins for bump out

May 22, 2025 - Discovery of historic stenciling on back balcony wall

May 22, 2025 - CMU walls going up for the new addition

May 27, 2025 - Wide view of northwest corner of the theatre, progress of new addition walls

May 30, 2025 - Progress view front of Paramount

Jun 4, 2025 - Old loading dock door infilled, great brick match!

Jun 4, 2025 - Side view of bump out progress

Jun 18, 2025 - View of new opening from stage

Jun 20, 2025 - Final bump out concrete poured!

July 3, 2025 - Preparing for ceiling work!

July 9, 2025 - Exterior view of the new addition

July 28, 2025 - Old carpet removed from existing lobby

July 28, 2025 - Ceiling acoustical treatment complete, floors ready for new paint

July 28, 2025 - Concessions casework going in

July 28, 2025 - Beautiful new windows installed in new lobby!

July 28, 2025 - View from behind the concessions counter

July 28, 2025 - Main floor painting complete

July 29, 2025 - Stage floor sanding and refinishing begins - look what was underneath all that black paint!

July 29, 2025 - Exterior view with new annex windows installed

Paramount Theatre Renovation & Expansion Building Committee Members

Co-chairs: Belita Schindler & Randy Kramer

Austin Area Arts Staff: Kelsey Ritchie, Amy Wightkin

Community Members: John Beckmann, Aaron DeVries, Zach Fadness, Pete Jacobsen, Penny Kinney, Isaac Leyk, Barb Mitchell, Gretchen Ramlo, Rae Dawn Rao, Rick Young

In the news:

Austin Daily Herald 4-24-25

KIMT News 3: 4-24-25

Austin Daily Herald 4-22-25

KTTC: 1-22-25

KIMT News 3: 1-22-25

ABC 6 News: 1-22-25

Austin Daily Herald: 1-22-25

Star Tribune: 1-21-25

Austin Daily Herald: 12-3-24

KIMT News 3: 12-3-24

KTTC: 12-3-24

ABC 6 News: 12-3-24