Project Description

Wealthy Theatre Project Details Awards: 2002 Building Award from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network 2000 Honor Award from the Grand Valley Chapter, American Institute of Architects Built in 1911 as a vaudeville theatre and later used as a neighborhood movie house, in the 1980’s the deteriorated Wealthy Theatre was saved from demolition by a group of local business people and concerned citizens. Forming a non-profit organization and acquiring an adjacent storefront for additional support space, the group launched a comprehensive restoration initiative. Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. and Quinn Evans Architects guided the restoration project through construction documentation to completion. In the design, the architectural strengths of this 580-seat theatre have been fully brought to life, while providing for new electrical and mechanical systems and universal access. The fully restored theatre building now serves as a community arts center that is leased by local organizations for theater, arts and music performances and youth arts education programs.