Members of Madison’s Landmarks Commission unanimously approved plans to initiate renovations to the facade of the Orpheum Theatre located on State Street.
Architect Arlan Kay of Architecture Network, Inc., provided commission members with new design plans for the landmark building that first opened in 1926. Kay’s designs intend to provide the building with sturdy materials while preserving the antiquity of the monumental theater.
Commission members were pleased with the renovation proposal. “We’re very happy to see the Orpheum getting some attention that it badly needs,” commission member Michael Rosenblum said.
The type of granite chosen to replace the beige bricks on the front entrance of the theater, chocolate bamboo, is a rock similar to marble with smooth vein patterns that have the stability to withstand freezing conditions and salt exposure.
Commission members were pleased with plans to replace the front and Johnson Street entrances. The current wooden doors used for the back entrance have significant damage due to moisture exposure, allowing heat to escape, resulting in higher gas expenses. Aluminum doorways will replace the existing structures as durable installments that will also help prevent break-ins.
The theater’s front windows will be replaced with larger, clear glass windows, at the request of commission members.
The historic plaque located above the theater will be temporarily removed during renovations, undergoing extreme care. The plaque is a landmark itself, maintaining its time-honored appearance from the ’20s.
The renovations will help recreate the original classic style of the theater that has deteriorated after years of neglect, according to Kay.
