As part of an initiative to improve the quality and visibility of its theater program, Fordham University asked us to transform an existing classroom into The Kehoe Studio Theatre. A newly vaulted ceiling and frame were created to highlight the entrance. Fordham’s dark red signature color was used in the pigmented Venetian plaster wall, complimented by orange Chinese lacquer and earth-toned linoleum. Glossy finishes and stainless-steel lettering draw attention to the new theater. Inside, custom designed seats are surrounded by walls made of various shades of dark redwood slats. Steel pipes line the walls and ceilings as places to hang stage lighting, audio equipment and scenery. The slatted walls provide acoustical reflections and conceal acoustical absorption materials. *Designed by Mitchell Kurtz as Principal at MKAPC
The theaters proximity to a mechanical equipment room required us to implement aesthetic and functional design solutions to ensure the space would be quiet enough to suit the needs of a theater used for spoken drama within a university environment. Lighting, sound controls and accessible seating were designed to ensure simplicity and ease of use for students without the need for an experienced control booth operator.