Queen Theater interior including stage

The Queen Theater

LOCATION: Wilmington | DE

CLIENT: Buccini/Pollin Group

STATUS: Completed 2011

PROGRAM: Historic Preservation | Adaptive Reuse Renovation

AWARD: AIA Delaware | Honor Award for Design Excellence | 2011

     Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia | Grand Jury Award | 2012

The Queen Theater started life as the grand Clayton House Hotel in the 1870’s, was converted to a movie theater in 1916 during the golden age of cinema, then sat dormant after its last screening in 1957.The building was was slowly deteriorating at the corner of Market Street and 5th Street in Wilmington for many years, ripe for demolition. Instead, the community came together with the city, developers, World Cafe Live, and donors to preserve the Queen and create a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Wilmington. With the help of historic tax credits, a large scale renovation by Homsey Architects has given the building new life as a live music venue.

Queen Theater exterior before renovation
2008
Queen Theater exterior after renovation
2011
Queen Theater gutted

The renovation began with gutting the interior, removing the roof, and bracing the structure while deeper footings and a service basemsent were excavated. The renovation included the insertion of a new Service Level below the existing Theater floor to provide access and egress for service functions while maintaining the existing Theater volume. Interesting textures, plaster work, murals, and the old organ were uncovered in the demolition phase.

View from inside gutted shell
organ during gut phase
new truss holding up stepped seating

The expansive balcony was modified to create additional table seating with access from what would become the Olympia multi-function space above the Market Street restaurant. This change created a new structural challenge solved with the insertion of a new steel truss and floor framing.

Queen Theater 5th Street facade

Remnants of the windows from the theater’s previous life as the Clayton Hotel can be seen on the 5th street façade.

stairwell
wall texture

Rather than covering all of the interior walls with drywall and paint, old textures and imperfections were cleaned, sealed and left intact, most prominantly at the stage area.

old movie projector outside new elevator
New canopy
Downstairs bar
Queen Theater organ and ceiling
Queen Theater organ and ceiling

The Queen Theater continues to be a central element in the revitalization of the City of Wilmington’s Lower Market Street District.