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Universal Preservation Hall
Universal Preservation Hall
Saratoga Springs, NY, United States
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Universal Preservation Hall
Saratoga Springs, NY, United States
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2020
SIZE
10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft
Photos
In 1999, the Universal Baptist Church was condemned. The congregation that worshipped there could not maintain the large historic church constructed in 1871. Roof leaks caused masonry failure and some large timber trusses supporting the roof. A group of local preservationists joined the church to create Universal Preservation Hall (UPH), a venue for the arts to maintain a chapel for the congregation. The building was stabilized, but the Great Recession stopped additional work.
Thaler Reilly Wilson was hired in 2013 to reimagine how the building could work as a performance venue. Design considerations included: universal access; the flow of patrons from ticketing and pre-event gathering on the first floor to the Great Hall and balcony above; separate circulation for performers and equipment; maintaining 700 seats; flexibility for various types of events; pathways for complex, yet quiet, HVAC systems; acoustical improvements; restoration of the roof, masonry, front entry, stained glass windows, and interior finishes of this historic building. All work, including the design of any new addition, needed to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards so that the project could receive Historic Tax Credits critical to the project’s economic viability.
Our solution was to raise the grade three feet along the east side of the building and design a one-story addition to serve as a box office, lobby, and main office. A 1:20 sloped walkway accessed this addition from the public sidewalk. The design utilized brick, cast stone, and granite to harmonize with the original building, while the large glazed area allows a view of the original façade within. An elevator tower was designed adjacent to the entry addition behind the larger bell tower. The addition incorporates corbeled brickwork, cast stone lintels, and a pedimented gabled roof with fresh air louvers.
Locating the elevator at the southern end of the building allowed it to serve all floors and aligned it with the balcony, which we extended to provide additional tiered seating. Retractable seating was located below the extended balcony with concessions behind. A portable stage at the center of the Great Hall allowed for both flexibility and intimacy. Draperies, seating, and reflective panels addressed acoustical concerns.
A separate entrance accommodates both services and performers. A private stair connects the dressing rooms to the Great Hall. Now repositioned as a performance venue, UPH once again serves an important place in the region’s cultural life.
Thaler Reilly Wilson was hired in 2013 to reimagine how the building could work as a performance venue. Design considerations included: universal access; the flow of patrons from ticketing and pre-event gathering on the first floor to the Great Hall and balcony above; separate circulation for performers and equipment; maintaining 700 seats; flexibility for various types of events; pathways for complex, yet quiet, HVAC systems; acoustical improvements; restoration of the roof, masonry, front entry, stained glass windows, and interior finishes of this historic building. All work, including the design of any new addition, needed to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards so that the project could receive Historic Tax Credits critical to the project’s economic viability.
Our solution was to raise the grade three feet along the east side of the building and design a one-story addition to serve as a box office, lobby, and main office. A 1:20 sloped walkway accessed this addition from the public sidewalk. The design utilized brick, cast stone, and granite to harmonize with the original building, while the large glazed area allows a view of the original façade within. An elevator tower was designed adjacent to the entry addition behind the larger bell tower. The addition incorporates corbeled brickwork, cast stone lintels, and a pedimented gabled roof with fresh air louvers.
Locating the elevator at the southern end of the building allowed it to serve all floors and aligned it with the balcony, which we extended to provide additional tiered seating. Retractable seating was located below the extended balcony with concessions behind. A portable stage at the center of the Great Hall allowed for both flexibility and intimacy. Draperies, seating, and reflective panels addressed acoustical concerns.
A separate entrance accommodates both services and performers. A private stair connects the dressing rooms to the Great Hall. Now repositioned as a performance venue, UPH once again serves an important place in the region’s cultural life.
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