BILCO Helps Modernize Black Box Theater

PHOENIX, AZ -- More than six decades after Steven Spielberg premiered his debut film “Firelight” there, the Phoenix Little Theater in Arizona is once again changing what is possible on its stage. This time, the transformation was architectural with the use of BILCO acoustical smoke vents and roof hatches.

RSP Architects has reimagined a former black box theater as a full-scale main-stage venue, giving the century-old institution new capabilities without abandoning the character and history of the campus around it.

The 17,500-square-foot expansion introduces a full fly tower, orchestra pit, automated floor traps, catwalks, lighting and projection capabilities, expanded seating and new backstage infrastructure. The project also required carefully designed access points that could accommodate rooftop mechanical systems and theater operations while addressing demanding acoustic requirements.

“The scenes and the sound were going to be amplified, but anytime that there’s a quiet moment the theater staff wants it to be really quiet because it’s close to the street and every opening has to be treated like it was going to be a source of noise,” said Luis Cruz-Martinez, a project architect with RSP Architects. “That’s why it was important for them that the hatches were insulated, and because of the large amount of equipment, that’s why we wanted the largest hatch possible.”

Turning a black box theater into a sophisticated performance venue was only part of the challenge. The theater remained fully operational throughout construction, with performance continuing in other spaces and theater camps taking place on the campus.

The project also had to fit within a constrained site shared with the Phoenix Art Museum, while addressing noise from the surrounding city, mechanical equipment and aircrafts overhead.

To support the new theater infrastructure, BILCO products were incorporated into the project to provide dependable access to critical areas while meeting the project’s performance requirements. Customized solutions including specialized finishes and acoustic considerations helped integrate the products into the design.

The project included multiple roof access points serving different operational needs, including access to technical spaces and the fly tower. A larger access opening was selected to support maintenance activities.

“BILCO, from my extent, is the standard in this profession.” said Cruz-Martinez. “It’s known industry-wide, the website is easy to navigate I can see all the different options depending on what I need.”

Through thoughtful design, advanced performance capabilities and reliable building solutions from partners such as BILCO, The Phoenix Theatre’s Company’s next act is ready for the stage.

BILCO is headquarters in New Haven, Conn. Learn more at www.bilco.com.