Project Description
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1998-2005/06
This project included a needs assessment, preliminary historic reports, a building program and conceptual designs for programming and developing a multiple venue, multi-purpose facility for Gettysburg College and the Borough of Gettysburg. Janis A. Barlow & Associates provided consulting support from the project inception in 1998 to its successful series of openings in 2005/06. Killis Almond FAIA provided theatre design services for the project.
Built in 1925, the Majestic Theatre has been operating as a commercial first-run film house since the 1970s when it was partitioned into three screens. The Majestic was acquired by Gettysburg College in order to restore the theatre to its original purpose and develop a performing arts centre for the use of both college and community residents.
Janis Barlow provided Gettysburg College with a needs and market assessment, and a program and business plan for the Majestic Theater. Use recommendations included the development of two small screening rooms adjacent to the 900-seat theatre in order to maintain the tradition of regular film screenings, serve the college’s film program and offer alternative studio theatre space to small arts organizations in the borough. Program recommendations included community and college rentals, a professional presentation series and pursuit of a professional summer production specifically geared to the area tourists.
