Gilbane Building Company Completes Restoration of Historic Kings Theatre

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilbane Building Company, a leading construction services firm, is pleased to announce the completion of the restoration and renovation of Kings Theatre, a 1929 historical landmark theatre in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. After remaining vacant and falling into disrepair for nearly 40 years, the theatre required extensive restoration and renovation work to bring the former movie palace back to its original grandeur and return as the largest performance arts venue in Brooklyn and third largest in New York City.

Construction on the theatre broke ground in January 2013. Work on the theatre included a 5-month "stabilization period" that was necessary to make the space a safe working environment by removing several years' worth of accumulated water and mold, as well as repairing the roof to prevent further environmental damage. Led by Martinez+Johnson Architecture, the revitalization of the theatre included restoration or recreation of ornate plaster walls, gold-leaf ornament throughout, rich wood paneling, elaborate curved ceilings, and the terra cotta façade. Original elements were restored where possible, and any elements that were damaged beyond repair were faithfully recreated. An additional 10,000 square feet was constructed to accommodate the requirements for live performance.

"Gilbane is honored to have been a part of the preservation and restoration of this historic landmark," said Neil Heyman, Vice President of Gilbane Building Company. "The collaboration between all parties involved–from owners, architect, preservation specialist, and all the trades–made this a successful project, completing on schedule and on budget. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this beautiful theatre back to the borough of Brooklyn and the City of New York."  

The $95 million restoration was funded by New York City, New York State, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, the National Development Council, and ACE Theatrical Group.  

"The Kings Theatre is now once again an integral part of this community, after being lost to the City for so long," said David Anderson, President and CEO of ACE Theatrical Group. "We are so proud to welcome New Yorkers back to the Kings and we thank the community for its incredible support of the revitalization project."

About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, close-out and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Marking its 141st year in operation and still a privately held, family-run company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world.

Gilbane Building Company has been providing construction management services in New York for more than 60 years. Gilbane has managed some of New York's most high-profile public jobs, including the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows Park, British Airways Terminal at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, and Columbia University's Baker Field. Currently, among other projects in the New York area, Gilbane is providing construction management services for The Aston, a 19-story residential building in Forest Hills, Queens; the White Plains Hospital Modernization Program; SUNY Downstate Medical Center Academic Building; as well as several projects for New York-Presbyterian. To learn more, visit www.gilbaneco.com.

About Kings Theatre
The historic Kings Theatre reopens its doors in 2015 as one of New York's premier performing arts venues. Providing a destination for large-scale popular entertainment and serving as a resource for local arts groups and community organizations, the City-owned Theatre will be a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community and add a major fixture to Brooklyn's vibrant cultural landscape. The Kings Theatre was originally designed by Rapp & Rapp in 1929 and was one of the five Loew's 'Wonder Theatres' built in New York and New Jersey during that period. Featuring high curved ceilings, ornate plaster walls, wood paneling, pink marble, and a glazed terra-cotta ornamental façade, the classic 20^th-century movie palace was inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House. Spearheaded by ACE Theatrical Group and designed by Martinez+Johnson Architecture, with Gilbane Building Company serving as construction manager, the redevelopment project both revives the historic structure's original splendor and transforms the Theatre into a state-of-the-art facility with over 3,000 seats—the largest of its kind in Brooklyn. The Theatre was recently selected as a recipient of the 2014 New York State Historic Preservation Award for excellence in preservation and revitalization, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

The renovation and restoration of the Kings Theatre is a partnership between the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Kings Theatre Redevelopment Company -- a consortium of ACE Theatrical Group, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, and the National Development Council. Public sector funding is provided by the City of New York, through the Office of the Mayor, the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, the New York City Council and District 40 Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene, and by the State of New York. Additionally, the Kings Theatre is a Federal and New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credit project and a Federal New Markets Tax Credit project in partnership with Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, United Fund Advisors, and the National Development Council. www.KingsTheatre.com.

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SOURCE Gilbane Building Company

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