Maintaining The Historic Theater
As The Granada approaches its 102nd birthday, the Grand Dame of State Street continues to look as regal inside and out as she did when first constructed in 1924 and revived in 2008. Part of the secret to her success is the dedicated facilities team at the theater.
Led by Facilities Manager Benjamin Badillo and Facilities Assistant Manager Martin Garcia, the facilities team ensures that The Granada’s HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and grounds are safe, functional, and ready for showtime. The facilities team is the backbone of the theater, ensuring that everything backstage and in the front of house runs smoothly so the magic on stage can happen without a hitch.
An Ounce of Prevention
The Granada was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. With a historic building, the mindset of the facility team is one of repair and maintenance rather than replacement when broken.
“Our mentality is definitely one of being proactive, not reactive,” said Badillo. “If we see something that looks like it will need replacing ‘soon’, we don’t wait, we do it immediately.”
The entire Granada team has a sensibility for preserving and maintaining the historic theater. Badillo instituted a formal work order process, allowing any employee to alert the facilities team to maintenance issues. This system helps Badillo track repairs and identify patterns that highlight areas needing special attention.
“We have several preventative maintenance checklists that keep our work on track,” said Badillo. “A lot of it is routine, like checking all the seats in the theater or going on the roof to make sure no debris is in the HVAC system, but it all adds up to making sure the theater is in perfect order.”
Recipe for Success
Both Badillo and Garcia took unusual paths to The Granada. Badillo spent seven years in automotive repair before changing careers.
“There are some similarities in that there are a lot of motors and wires in the theater too,” he said. “It was a big decision to leave, but I’d seen several shows at The Granada, and the building is so iconic. It was a great opportunity. It’s been an amazing shift in culture; everyone here is wonderful.”
Garcia was a sous chef who spent a year in landscaping during the pandemic. After he returned to the kitchen, he missed seeing the tangible results of his landscape improvements. He’s found that same satisfaction since joining The Granada in September 2025.
“Maintaining The Granada is a lot like following a recipe, because of the procedures Ben has in place,” he said.
Renovation Guidelines
Thanks to a preservation-focused mindset, the facilities team hasn’t needed to undertake much renovation work. In fact, Badillo can only think of one instance: a carving accidentally damaged by a stagehand. Badillo’s predecessor carefully replicated the piece, matching everything so well that it’s impossible to spot the replacement statue from the originals.
When The Granada does want to make changes, it follows guidelines set by The National Register of Historic Places. A recent example is the refurbishment of the theater doors, which were refreshed after many years in the sun.
“We had to make sure they weren’t too glossy or too matte and matched the building,” Badillo said. “We kept the door handles because we liked the patina they’ve developed.”
First Impressions Matter
According to Badillo, one of the most important things to him is to ensure that The Granada wows people passing by on State Street.
“First impressions are everything, so we work hard to make sure the marquee is always perfect,” he said.
Ultimately, the facilities team’s goal is to ensure guests have an amazing experience during a performance.
“A show can be pretty easy or extremely hectic,” he said. “Sometimes a sink or toilet stops working, and we can’t fix it immediately, but we operate like we’re Disneyland; whatever the issue is, we do everything we can to make sure the guest still has the same great experience.”
Badillo encourages everyone in Santa Barbara to step inside and enjoy the magic of The Granada.
“It’s truly an experience and really embodies what it means to be in Santa Barbara,” he said.