Auditorium Work Gets First OK : Renovation: The council approves design work on remodeling and upgrading of the 1938 structure.

Glendale City Council members on Tuesday approved preliminary design work on a four-year, $9.5-million plan to renovate and expand the cavernous Glendale Civic Auditorium.

More detailed design work can now proceed and construction could begin next March or April, said project architect Lee Brennan of URS Consultants of Long Beach.

City officials in recent years debated whether to replace or restore the auditorium, which has deteriorated since it was built in 1938 as a public works project. The auditorium, at 1401 N. Verdugo Road, is a popular site for high school dances, social events and community shows.

In 1988, the council voted to preserve the building and last year it hired URS to design the renovation and expansion work, which is expected to be finished in June 1994.

URS representatives displayed their initial drawings to the council Tuesday, explaining that the restored auditorium and its addition will retain the original California mission architectural style.

“This is marvelous--every aspect of it,” said Councilman Carl Raggio.

The design was also praised by Mary Ann Prelock of the Royal Canyon Property Owners Assn., who lobbied to preserve the building and has represented nearby residents in meetings with the consultants.

The project calls for remodeling and upgrading of the auditorium and construction of a two-story addition that will house three meeting rooms, administrative office and a kitchen. A three-level parking structure will be built, along with traffic circulation improvements.

“We want to emphasize and restore the architectural heritage,” Brennan said. “We want to expand and improve the auditorium and meeting spaces. We want to develop and expand outdoor spaces and consolidate office space.”

He said the two-story addition will be built as the first phase of the project. Brennan said the phases will let parts of the auditorium grounds remain open while construction work proceeds.