Old to New Opportunities for Historic Theatres:
Insights from McLaren's VP of Entertainment Engineering and KGA Architects at NYC Facades+ 2024
Join McLaren’s Vice President of Entertainment Engineering, Bill Gorlin, PE, SE for a workshop at the NYC Facades+ 2024 Conference (presented by The Architect’s Newspaper). Partnering with Lena Dau-Ping Fan and Gary A. Li, AIA, LEED Green Associate, NCARB of KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects), their session “Old to New: Façade Restoration, Modernization, and New Opportunities for Historic Theaters” promises a deep dive into preserving New York City’s iconic theaters.
This all-day workshop (Friday, April 5th, 9:30am-4:45pm) emphasizes the challenges and rewards of preparing these entertainment landmarks for a new era. Bill and KGA will explore the crucial role of the design team, focusing on their understanding of historic preservation, modern technical needs, zoning regulations, and theater programming.
Old to New: Facade Restoration, Modernization, and New Opportunities for Historic Theatres
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
TRACK C: Materiality: Multi-Material Enclosure Case Studies
The increasing need to prepare historic theaters for a new era of productions and patron needs benefits from the design team’s understanding of preservation, technical stage requirements, zoning regulations, and programming.
A case study of two recently completed expansions to historic theaters in New York City spotlights the challenges, solutions and results of adding to and creating new.
James Earl Jones Theatre Annex. The Shubert Organization completes a $47 million major restoration and expansion project at the newly named James Earl Jones Theatre (formerly Cort Theatre). In addition to historic refurbishments to the interior and rehabilitation of the historic landmark’s façade, the Broadway venue now includes an Annex, which is a much-needed 20,000 sqft expansion on its western side.
The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater. A 25,000 sqft performance venue, as part of a mixed-use development, to fit into the space left from the demolition of the Victoria Theater (two buildings away from the famed Apollo Theater), is the legendary Apollo’s first physical expansion in its 90-year history. The new performing arts component contains cultural performing arts spaces with two state-of-the-art studio theaters, a central lobby, gallery space and administrative offices.