The Lighting Practice is delighted to announce that Preservation Pennsylvania honored the Civic Theatre of Allentown at the 2019 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards. The theater won a Special Focus Award in the category of Construction Project Awards – Rehabilitation.
Established as the “Civic Little Theatre,” the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is a nearly-century-old landmark in Lehigh County, PA. In 1957, the Civic Theatre moved into the Nineteenth Street Theatre, a 1928 Art Deco building in Allentown’s West End, and it continues to hold court there. When the theater began to show signs of age, Mills + Schnoering Architects (M+Sa) designed a master plan for the historic building’s renovation and restoration.
The Lighting Practice was tasked with redesigning the lighting system within the box office, lobby, auditorium, stage, control booths, and concessions. Working closely with the client and design team, Jered Widmer and Chris Hallenbeck refurbished the historic lighting while providing a more user-friendly, modern system that comes in under energy code requirements.
The new lighting control system is seamlessly integrated with the theatrical lighting system. Higher, more uniform lighting levels in the auditorium house improve the guest experience with minimal impact to the existing ceilings, minimizing acoustic and visual disruption. Existing wall murals come to life with new lighting that better showcases the artwork.
TLP is proud to have been part of this renovation project that celebrates the Civic Theatre’s Art Deco roots and its importance in the community.
Civic Theatre of Allentown Project Team:
- Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC
- Keystone Preservation Group
- EverGreene Architectural Arts
- C & B Consulting Engineers; LLC
- Harrison – Hamnett, PC
- The Lighting Practice
- Stages Consultants, LLC
- Alvin H. Butz, Inc.
- Becker & Frondorf
