Beacon TheatreNEW YORK, NY

BBB’s interior restoration of The Beacon Theatre ensures the continuation of its legacy as New York City’s premier, intimate “rock house.”

The Beacon Theatre is one of the last surviving movie palaces in Manhattan, and stands as both an architectural landmark and an icon of popular culture. Designed by noted Chicago architect Walter Ahlschlager and opened in 1929, the Beacon Theatre is a designated New York interior landmark and one of the city’s most popular live performance venues. Over time, the Beacon’s lavish interiors—an eclectic mix of Greek, Roman, Renaissance and Rococo styles—had deteriorated. BBB was engaged to lead the comprehensive restoration of the historic 2,829-seat theater and interior public spaces, backstage, and back-of-house areas. System upgrades necessary for the theater’s modernization—including theatrical house lighting, electrical service and wiring, plumbing and audio technology—were designed with careful consideration of their historic context. Based on extensive research and detailed, on-site examination of original, decorative painting techniques, the restoration employed the services of over 1,000 artisans, craftsmen, and tradesmen.

Client Madison Square Garden, Inc.Size 57,400 SFCompletion Date 2009Construction Cost $16 million