The Art of Revitalizing Our Cities

Transcription

1 The Art of Revitalizing Our Cities ALLEN THEATRE AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE June 7, 2014

2 ABOUT THE SPEAKER PAUL SIEMBORSKI Westlake Reed Leskosky Paul Siemborski is a Principal and Architect for Westlake Reed Leskosky, an architectural design firm specializing in many sectors, including Cultural and Performing Arts, and Restoration/Adaptive Reuse. Starting the presentation off, Paul provides a discussion on The Art of Revitalizing Our Cities, and finishes up by presenting several examples of historic theatres and their impact on the arts district.

3 THE DISTRICT Allen Theatre Site Plan

4 A HISTORIC THEATRE A historic theatre as catalyst for downtown redevelopment Embassy Theatre Lewistown, PA Dixie Theatre Staunton, VA Rose Garden Theatre Clarksburg, WV Columbia Theatre Paducah, KY

5 HISTORY OF PHS + ALLEN THEATRE Downtown Cleveland Theatres are constructed, which include: Palace, State, Ohio, Hanna and Allen Forced bussing, race riots, and post-wwii developments yield flight to the suburbs All the theatres at PHS, except Hanna, close and face demolition 1968 The Allen Theatre closes, low ticket sales Playhouse Square Association is formed to save the theaters 1970 s Theatres saved from demolition, over time they re-open

6 HISTORY OF PHS + ALLEN THEATRE The Allen Theatre re-opens un-restored The Allen Theatre is expanded and restored under PHS The restored Allen Theatre is no longer viable in the market place as a road show house CPH enters the picture at Playhouse Square The Allen Theatre undergoes another renovation involving PHS, CPH, CSU and CWRU 2012 CPH renovation + expansion of the Allen Theatre is complete

7 1920 s THEATRE OPENING Playhouse Square along Euclid Avenue Allen Theatre

8 1970 s DECLINE Playhouse Square Playhouse Square Association in 1971

9 1990 s RE-OPENING Construction Auditorium Restoration

10 1990 s RE-OPENING A new stage house is built The theatre is restored Patron + performer amenities added Existing Stage House Demolition + Expansion Before + After Ceiling Restoration

11 1998 PHS RESTORATION Lobby Auditorium

12 1998 PHS RESTORATION Expanded Stage House Seating

13 2005 MARKET CHANGES Market demand for road house changes Configuration of restored 2,500-seat Allen Theatre is no longer relevant to customer demands Theatre shuttered

14 2009 ENTER CPH 1. Cleveland Playhouse (CPH) is America s first professional regional theatre company 2. Established in 1915, CPH was located in midtown corridor a cultural desert 4 miles from downtown 3. CPH occupied multiple buildings, many obsolete 4. In 2008, CPH faced financial challenges from the market fall 5. In 2009, CPH, PHS, CSU and CWRU announced a new partnership 6. Allen Theatre renovates and expands the second time

15 CHALLENGES 1. Can historic theatres be hip, eclectic + nostalgic? 2. Can new construction co-exist with the old? 3. Can you mix historic + contemporary? 4. Can you mix traditional + digital media? 5. Can you attract the young + the old? IN MOST CASES YOU CAN T AFFORD NOT TO!

16 2011 CPH RENOVATION + EXPANSION Floor Plan

17 2011 CPH RENOVATION Three theatres: Main Stage Theatre 550-Seat Proscenium Second Stage Theatre (Outcalt). 350-Seat Flexible Lab Theatre (Helen) Seat Black Box Inner streetscape connects garage, theatres, restaurants, offices Main Stage - EXISTING Second Stage - NEW Lab Theatre - NEW

18 ALLEN ENTRANCE Hall - OLD, NOSTALGIC Lobby - NEW, HIP

19 ALLEN MAIN STAGE Entry Auditorium

20 ALLEN MAIN STAGE From 5 venues to 3 venues From owner to tenant From a desert to a district CPH - Allen Main Stage

21 ECONOMIC + SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT Economic impact $14M 150,000 additional guests to the district each yr Adds local jobs (100+ artists, artisans, educators, technicians & admin staff) University partnerships Draw for students studying technical theatre Education outreach to 19 counties (Demographics: 47% Caucasian, 33% African American, 10% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 5% Other) 100,000 people participate annually

22 HISTORIC THEATRE ADVANTAGE Economic value in reusing existing buildings vs. demolition and new construction Financial incentives such as federal and state historic tax credits Value in historic buildings: Legacy Community Sense of Place Easier to achieve LEED Ability to be part of a TIF Usually led by 501 C3 smart people

23 THANK YOU: Preservation speaks to legacy No one goes it alone Inherent value ($) in restoring old buildings (25%) We may need to re-purpose a building to make it viable It s better than the alternative