Page 7 - Volume 41-Number 04 11-07-18.pdf
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The City of Clarksburg purchased this “diamond-
in-the-rough” in the Spring of 2014 to use as a
mechanism to spur economic development within
the historic downtown area. They acted quickly in
their search for an architect to bring this jewel back
to life! After receiving 12 submissions from local and
regional firms, the city selected LHAT Member, WYK
Associates, Inc. for the task. WYK’s predecessors
were the architects for the 1939 Art Deco Style
reconstruction of the interior post-fire. WYK built a
stellar team of exceptional consultants. The best in
their fields, WYK utilized the expertise of another
LHAT Member, Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland,
OH for theatrical components, audiovisual and
acoustical design; CAS Structural Engineering and ZDS
Exterior before renovation Design Consultants for HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing
Design, just to highlight a few.
“My attachment to this project goes beyond any
other, as I am personally connected to it. I have
memories of attending this theatre with my family
as a child to watch movies and plays. In the 1970’s, it
was the only theatre in the area,” said James Swiger,
President of WYK Associates, Inc.
According to Swiger the project entails many layers
of classification. Working closely with the WV State
Historic Preservation Office (WVSHPO) from the
onset of design, it was determined the interior would
be treated as a rehabilitation while the exterior
would be a historic restoration. The original building
was approximately 30,000 square feet. The owner
purchased a one-story adjacent building which
Exterior renovation in progress would later be renovated into new concessions and
restrooms. In addition, they also purchased two
run-down properties on the northwest corner of
the property, allowing for a 13,000 square foot two-
story addition which houses new star and chorus
dressing rooms, a new loading dock, mechanical
space, elevator as well as a large multi-purpose space
referred to as the Educational Center, with its own set
of restrooms and prep kitchen. The overall complex
now consists of over 45,000 square feet.
The extensive renovations and additions also called
for a new east stair tower to allow for egress out of
the balcony, a padded and climate-controlled room
to store the new Steinway Concert Grand Piano, the
electrical entrance and stage dimming rooms. The
performance hall seats over 1,000 persons in new
Exterior renovation in progress (Continued on next page.)
PAGE 4 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres Resource Guide & Directory November 2018 INLEAGUE | PAGE 5
