Developing Your Historic Theater Renovation Plan

If a community is considering preserving and renovating a historic theater, the first thing to do is identify a leader for the project. This leader must be someone who has a high profile and is capable of galvanizing various constituencies in the community. This individual must also be able to direct the project and lead the fund raising campaign. Once this individual is named, the following points should be explored systematically to determine the feasibility of the project and its potential for success.

Determine the Historic Significance and Structural Integrity of the Theater – Does the theater have landmark status, architectural features and a performance history worth preserving? Are the interior and exterior of the building structurally sound? If not, what will it take to make them so?

Assess the Need – Does the community need this theater? Will it overlap or compliment other facilities in the community? Who will use it? Who will it serve? Will it enable the community to enhance cultural and community activities?

Determine Potential Users and Their Needs – Which organizations in the community might use the renovated theater: arts groups, educational and community organizations and presenters? Might national presenters be interested in using the facility for performances and events? What are the possible uses: plays and musicals, concerts, dance, opera, music, film, lectures, children’s productions, touring productions, community meetings? What are the lobby, house and stage needs: number of seats, rigging and stage lighting systems, lobby space, dressing rooms, storage needs, administration offices, etc. of the potential users?

Develop a Projected Program – Based upon the needs of potential users, develop a projected schedule of how the theater might be used for one year. The program should be developed to gain maximum use of the facility, because there are fixed operating costs that continue when the theater is not in use. Along with the program, a projected budget should be developed that includes facility operating costs.

Estimate the Cost of the Renovation – Based upon potential uses, determine the estimated cost to renovate the entire facility, including all interior work: the stage, all technical systems, backstage and work spaces, audience and front-of-house spaces, as well as: exterior façade, signage and landscaping.

Determine Fundraising Capability – Determine the ability of the community to raise the funds needed to finance the entire renovation and to establish an operating endowment. Identify major private donors, government and community funding resources, businesses and the feasibility to launch a special campaign to seek grass-roots support from as many individuals as possible within the community. Ideally, 50% of the total renovation costs should be committed before beginning the project.

With good leadership, a sold plan built upon careful examination of these points and a substantial portion of the funding in place a community is well-positioned to undertake the preservation and successful renovation of a historic theater.

Theater Design Launches New Website

After nearly 25 years working on a variety of projects Theater Design has become a sought-after firm due to our reputation in the industry, the success of our projects and the acclaim of our clients. As we look to the future we have decided that our website should reflect that diverse experience and expertise with a new website (expertly designed by DABBOTT Design). We wish to provide architects and performing arts organizations with a website that is easy to navigate and that describes our services, philosophy and approach to projects.

Visitors to the website will find easy access to the services we provide, past and present projects and solutions to common and unique design issues. Our FAQ page clearly explains the value of our services and that while designing a new theater is similar to designing a show, it is vastly more complex. These issues are discussed in greater detail in Building Better Theaters, by Theater Design founder and president Michael Mell.

Our NEWS section keeps our clients up to date on the activities of the firm and staff. As well, future press releases and items of interest to the theater design industry are presented. We encourage our clients to BE IN TOUCH via the contact page where they may send an email or find our phone number to speak to us directly.

Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Theater Design attended the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference in Philadelphia on March 8-10, 2023. The theme of the conference was “Removing Barriers for a Limitless Reality,” exploring how colleges and universities are breaking down both the physical and intangible barriers that are impeding them from achieving their missions. Planners at Temple University are actively taking steps to remove barriers at their own institution: eliminating the fences that had separated campus from the surrounding North Philadelphia neighborhood; implementing new policies to create a more equitable environment for students and staff alike; expanding educational opportunities for students with learning challenges; and more!