The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Rochester honored Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women – The Dismas Center for the Performing Arts with the 2016 BOMA Rochester Recognition Award in the renovation category.
SWBR’s design preserved the beauty of the historical building while upgrading it to meet current safety codes and the school’s needs. New sound, lighting systems and control booth, beautiful new seating inspired by the original architecture, new and restored finishes and improved acoustics were all incorporated into the design. The renovated Main Lobby was significantly updated with new lighting, display cases and acoustic doors, all complementing the original design. An Art Gallery was created at the second floor and a new Black Box Theater will serve as a multipurpose educational environment suitable for smaller performances, theater instruction & rehearsal, dance instruction, lectures and special events.
The original auditorium was built in 1940 with limited improvements in the last 75 years and is listed on the Town of Brighton Historic Registry.