Work on the an extensive facelift of the Great Bend Events Center is underway, City Administrator Howard Partington said.

Steel for nearly $300,000 project was dropped off on Friday, he said. Brentwood Builders LLC. of Great Bend, which was awarded the contract in July, was on the job Tuesday ripping off the existing overhang.

Brentwood has 90 days from the date the material arrives for the steel structure to complete the project. There could be penalties for delays.

“This is a fairly large project,” Partington said earlier. “The goal is to change the front of the Events Center.”

In general, the scope of the work involves replacing the canopy, providing better accessibility to the front entrance and replacing a portion of the parking 

Salina-based DMA Architects prepared the plans and specifications for the project.

Changes include:

• The existing canopy and supporting columns will be removed.  

It will be replaced by a 34-by-60-foot canopy covering 2,000 square feet with a 14-foot clearance. Along with this, there will be an 18-by-80-foot plaza area in front of the center.

• About 8,500 square feet of the southeast quarter of the parking lot will be removed and replaced. This will be somewhat sloped and done to make the building more handicapped accessible and improve rainwater drainage.

• There will be a repair of the external surfacing, or plaster that covers the building’s facade. This could incorporate a sample of a new color scheme that may eventually be used on the entire center.

The council has the ultimate say in any color changes.

• Some of the front doors will be replaced with wider, 42-inch doors. There will also be an automatic door opener installed.

The interior doors that help created the entrance vestibule will remain in place.

• An ice and snow melting system under the canopy will be installed (this is purpose for the $2,200 alternate bid listed above).

• A ramp for handicapped patrons will be added.

• Variable LED lighting under the canopy will be installed.