We’re thrilled to announce that after interviewing several candidates, we have hired Voith & Mactavish Architects to commence with the plans for our five-screen film and education center, and an owner’s rep firm, B&F, to help oversee the project from planning through construction phases.
Voith & Mactavish has extensive experience in designing and restoring historic movie theaters, including the Bryn Mawr, the County and the Ambler Theaters in Pennsylvania. They’ve also worked on several performing arts theaters.
Of course, to do it right will take time. We’re now in Phase 1, with the architects preparing the plans. Once approved, contractors and subcontractors will need to be hired, and permits will need to be secured. Fortunately, our city electeds have been extremely helpful at every turn, expediting our conversations with the Dept of Buildings and directing us to possible grants. We’ve also received early support from the Landmarks folks, who are as eager to see us preserve the gorgeous theater facade as we are.
In preparation for the design of the theaters as well as operation and program planning, the UWSCC admin team attended the recent Art House Convergence conference (a consortium of 800 independent cinemas from across the country) and we continue to take every opportunity to tour model art houses–most recently, the Music Box and Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago and the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, Mass.