Awards:
2024 Merit Award, Building Architecture: AIA Cincinnati Design Awards // Liberty Theater
Description:
The Liberty Theater has occupied a central role in the city of Lawrenceburg’s cultural and civic life for over 120 years, and, after a complete restoration and renovation, it will continue to do so for many more.
Originally built in 1893 by German Immigrants as a playhouse, the Lawrenceburg Liedertafel kept the community’s old-world traditions alive (performances! beer! singing!) until the 1920s brought prohibition, talking pictures, and a new name. The theater survived several floods of the nearby Ohio River, but eventually stopped showing pictures and was converted to a number of storefront businesses before ultimately sitting vacant.
Seeing a unique asset in the Liberty Theater and an opportunity to revitalize their downtown, the city of Lawrenceburg decided to restore the theater to its former glory. It would be transformed from a state of disrepair to a state of the art performance and event space. This was no small undertaking – flooding had undermined most of the wood foundations, the roof trusses were splayed, finishes were at least three materials thick, there were no functional systems to speak of, and no one can even remember if there were bathrooms. A lot of important historic pieces remained, however: the wood roof and clerestory windows, old growth wood flooring, and cast-iron and metal facade work, among others.
Our strategy was to keep all new program, equipment, and partitions to the edges of the building and allow the historic theater space to remain largely intact, a singular space that would form a connection throughout history — nearly recognizable to its 19th century inhabitants. The flyway was re-structured for air conditioning units, the basement was excavated several feet for restaurant support spaces, and empty storefronts were filled with a restaurant and a bourbon bar. The second floor projection room was converted to a performer’s lounge, preserving the characteristic camera apertures. The theater space flaunts carefully restored historic floors and ceilings. New restrooms and a sound both shelter the theater from the street while providing an opportunity for a mezzanine above, with VIP views of every show.
When performers take the stage at the revived Liberty Theater, resonant music escapes the building and echoes through the Ohio River valley – just as it did in 1893.
