The Huntridge Theater has been a Las Vegas landmark since 1944. During the past 60+ years the building has undergone many transitions in style and uses, and is currently unused and in a state of disrepair. The proposed design for the rehabilitation of the building is to adaptively reuse the existing structures while preserving the character and history of the site.
The scope of work includes clearing out the 7,000 square foot main area to house retail spaces and adding a second floor which will hold 6,100 square feet of office space. The existing 3,900 square foot lobby will remain the primary entrance and will include a new café along with internal circulation spaces for the adjacent retail and office spaces. The adjacent 10,000 square foot retail buildings will be rehabilitated to complement the style of the main building. In addition, a 5,500 square foot second floor will be added to house office space. Finally, to further develop the site and encourage an active, pedestrian retail shopping environment, the project includes the addition of two new retail buildings along Charleston Boulevard. These additions will include 6,300 square feet of retail and restaurant space that have been designed to complement the Moderne style of the main building. The overall complex has been designed to be a cohesive, mixed-use complex that embraces both the historic and the contemporary sides of Las Vegas.
INVOKING MEMORY
The theater’s existing iconic sign and marquee will be maintained as the formal entry.
The historic lobby will be transformed to tie the theater structure and adjacent corner
building together into one cohesive space.
A cafe and seating area will be located within the lobby space, providing an opportunity for the general public to enjoy the revitalized space.
The form of the monumental Huntridge sign will be extended to the ground plane and
integrated into a new entry passage and cafe service counter.
Theatrical posters will be integrated with the facade, recalling some of the movies and
music performances held at the theater.
ENHANCING THE PEDESTRIAN REALM
New storefronts will be provided within the existing and new construction to open up the
building to the street and courtyards, providing a transparency that is appropriate for retail.
The theater’s old bathroom and backstage areas will be cleared out and opened up to the outdoors, providing a pedestrian courtyard at the north side of the building for the new
retail entries.
The dilapidated southern service yard will be opened up to the rear parking lot, providing visual and physical connections for visitors to enter the southern structure and the remodeled theater lobby.
INTEGRATING OLD AND NEW
A new second floor is to be
added within the existing theater
space to provide additional
office lease space. The dramatic steel bowstring trusses and
steel reinforced fly loft will
remain exposed, opening the
space and maintaining a
connection to the structure’s
history.
The existing one-story corner
structure will receive a
completely new second floor
and new entry element. The
height of the old walls will be
reduced to bring the scale of the building down, while providing
balcony areas above.
A catwalk-like suspended
walkway will bridge the 10 foot
space between the theater and
corner building structures,
reusing some of the existing
materials from the theater to
integrate old elements into new
spaces.