Challenges & Solutions For Restoring Historical Theaters
By Anne Chapman
October 29, 2020, Updated December, 2024
Restoring a historic theater comes with numerous challenges, including cost, downtime, and finding reputable vendors. For theaters designated as historic landmarks, the process can become even more complex due to preservation requirements.
Navigating Building Codes
Older buildings often fail to meet current building codes in several areas. Lobbies and restrooms may not accommodate all patrons, fire detection and suppression systems may be inadequate, and rigging or electrical systems may need upgrades to ensure safety. Additionally, theater seating rows and aisles might be too narrow to comply with modern standards.
Working with an experienced architect or theater consultant is essential to understanding the implications of a restoration project. These professionals can guide theater owners through the development of plans, cost assessments, and negotiations with local fire marshals and officials to determine what elements can be grandfathered in and which must be updated.
Providing ADA Compliant Seating
Restorations often necessitate upgrades to meet ADA accessibility requirements. These may include adding wheelchair spaces, accessible ramps, and features like swing-up armrests on chairs. Ensuring compliance is critical to providing an inclusive experience for all patrons.
Keeping Guests Comfortable
Even when seating meets code, older designs often lack the comfort patrons expect today. Limited legroom and narrow seats are common in historic theaters. If space allows, working with a reputable seating manufacturer can help create a new layout that improves legroom and provides wider, more comfortable chairs. However, such changes may reduce overall seating capacity.
Balconies present unique challenges due to terraced designs, where altering treads and risers can be cost-prohibitive. In these cases, a “tight-envelope” chair may be a practical solution, offering extra legroom without major structural modifications.
Preserving Historic Character
Restoring a theater’s historic character requires skilled craftsmanship. Repairing plaster, restoring frescos, and maintaining period aesthetics are specialized tasks that demand expertise. This applies to seating as well.
Partnering with an experienced seating manufacturer ensures a smooth restoration process. This begins with evaluating existing seating to assess capacity, comfort, and feasibility for restoration. Challenges may arise when parts for older chairs are unavailable, or when the original design isn’t conducive to repair. In such cases, a balance between restoration and replacement may be the best approach.
Managing Costs and Minimizing Downtime
Theaters receiving funding from organizations like the League of Historic American Theaters or preservation societies often need to retain specific features to maintain eligibility.
For seating, combining old and new components can be a cost-effective solution. For example, redecorating existing cast aisle standards and pairing them with new backs and seats can preserve the theater’s character while reducing costs. Some manufacturers even offer custom-shaped new backs to match original designs.
Restoration is a time-intensive process. For example, Irwin Seating typically spends about 30 days renovating chairs for a client—one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. This downtime provides an opportunity to complete other updates, such as replacing carpets, refreshing paint, or upgrading lighting, while the theater is temporarily cleared of seating.
In Closing
Restoring a historic theater is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Taking the time to consult with experts and plan thoroughly ensures your space will be beautifully preserved for the next generation of patrons.