New building
Recently the Scala Theatre has undergone radical restructuring and restoration work on both the interior and external parts of the building. In fact at the end of the 2000 - 2001 season the building was closed to the public and the following year the intervention aimed at thoroughly transforming and updating structures, various systems and all equipment in conformity with current safety laws and technological progress was set into motion. At the same time the interior underwent a thorough conservative restoration while maintaining its traditional characteristics.Renovation was officially begun on the 4th July 2002. Restoration and restructuring work went on until in October 2004 when the Theatre and the innovative newly constructed administration area were handed back to the "Fondazione Scala".
Apart from the conservative restoration of the historic main body of the Piermarini auditorium, foyer and lobbies which was entrusted to Architect Elisabetta Fabbri, and the modernization of services, technological apparatus and devices the most visible aspect of the renovated Scala is actually the impressive new volume of elliptical design providing space for numerous facilities and the flytower which allows the modernization of the entire staging operation both designed by Mario Botta.
The ellipsis is the area of the building overlooking via Filodrammatici housing dressing rooms, changing rooms, cloakrooms, offices, canteen and workrooms while the flytower houses mechanical plant and apparatus for shifting scenery and rehearsal rooms for ballet, orchestra and chorus.
The objective of renovation work was extraordinary maintenance but also to remove layers of wall coverings down to the original features and restore them to their original elegance as well as improving the already exceptional acoustics. Once again the boxes have their original flooring in terracotta tiles from Medone previously suffocated by fitted carpet. Where it proved necessary ruined tiles were replaced with handmade replicas. Along the corridors behind the boxes the Venetian "seminato" tiled flooring has been restored to its former glory, and the walls are yellow "marmorino" faux marble veining. A new kind of parquet created ad hoc guarantees better acoustics in all the seating areas.
The traditional representative shade of "Scala" red has been preserved when materials have been renewed as has the antique gold of furnishings and decorations.
