Woodward Opera House
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Project Type: Renovation
Seat Count: 525
Opening: 2012
Construction Cost: $5.5 Million
Architect: Hardlines Design Company
Theatre Consultant: Facility Strategies, Inc.
AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video
Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, the Woodward Opera House is situated in the heart of Mount Vernon’s Central Business District. The Woodward Opera House, America’s Oldest Authentic 19th Century Theater is now slated for renovation. Public and private groups will be able to use the Woodward Opera House for their meetings and performances thereby benefiting the local economy by as much as $1 million per year in new revenues, not to mention enhancement to the arts.
The extremely tight footprint, wrap-around balcony, high proscenium, and narrow rectangular floor plan all lend themselves to excellent acoustics. Our work thus far has been focused on developing a plan for upgrading the existing exterior glazing that provides the most cost-effective improvement in isolation of outside noise, while recognizing the limitations to changes in the landmarked building exterior. Other early planning includes development of plans that provide for sufficient isolation between the theatre and the adjacent support spaces, some of which are in the adjacent annex building.
