The Traverse City Film Festival's largest indoor venue will be out of commission for this year's event.

Lars Hockstad Auditorium at Central Grade School will be closed for the summer for a full "deep clean," according to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) spokesperson Christine Guitar. "The building hasn't been closed in the summer for years, and we need to give it a fix-up," says Guitar. "There is lead abatement that needs to happen for paint on the bleachers in the gym and some other environmental legacies. None of which are a hazard, but there's an opportunity to do a whole lot of work that hasn't happened in way too long if the building is closed."

At 750 seats, Lars Hockstad is TCFF's second-largest venue after the Open Space and the largest indoor venue. Loss of the facility will likely mean the festival will need to add one or more new alternate venues to make up the screening capacity. Traverse City Central High School's newly renovated auditorium is one option, according to Guitar. TCFF Executive Director Deb Lake confirms the festival is working on "alternate plans" and says TCFF will announce "details on 2017 venues this spring."

TCAPS' annual summer program at Central Grade will also be moved off-campus this year, according to Guitar.