Lansdowne Theater

Comprehensive restoration renews a cherished cultural icon for a new generation

Photo Credit: Peter Woodall

Designed by notable theater architect William Harold Lee, the Lansdowne Theater opened in 1927 to great celebration as the largest and grandest building in Lansdowne's rapidly growing commercial district. The building originally housed the last W.W. Kimball Co. theater organ installed in the Philadelphia region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It consists of a two-story front section with street-level shops and offices above, and a 1,400-seat auditorium. An electrical fire in 1987 caused significant damage to much of the interior. Despite various efforts by several owners, the building fell into disrepair and remained unused for decades.

Led by a dedicated group of volunteers, the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation was established to rehabilitate the building and to catalyze the cultural revitalization of Lansdowne's historic business district. Working with Materials Conservation, AOS managed the restoration of the historic theater's exterior. This included cleaning and refinishing the masonry on the theater's main façade, repointing the cast stone, and recasting and installing missing architectural details.

The most recent phase of interior renovations represents the most substantial transformation to date, encompassing the complete restoration of the main historic auditorium and its richly detailed finishes, as well as a full renewal of the lobby, entry sequence, and bar areas to reestablish their original character and elevate the visitor experience. This phase also included an addition that houses new performance support areas including a green room and other essential back-of-house spaces.

Historic Photo courtesy of Matt Shultz

Project Team

Structural Engineer, Keast & Hood; MEP/FP, IMEG; AV/Acoustics: Acentech; Construction Manager, Columbus Construction