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Once a large movie house seating over 1,200 people, the Augusta Colonial Theater is now preparing for the future.
We are currently undergoing extensive restoration for a future which will include concerts, live theater, digital film presentations and more. The timeline for completion is still undetermined as restoration is dependent upon funding. As momentum builds, though, we're hoping to have a timeline for you soon. When redevelopment began back in 2016 the task seemed daunting. Faced with the very difficult task of a significant restoration project "from the basement up," a winning strategy was pulled together by board members, citizens, and business people working on the revitalization of historic downtown Augusta. After assembling a design team and completing extensive research, several ideas were considered. Research indicated that today's theaters do not survive on ticket sales alone and that live acts provide significant revenue as opposed to just film and live streaming. The Colonial historically had been a movie house that featured some vaudeville performances, but by expanding offerings to include concerts, live theater, and more, we will ensure sustainability and provide a greater arts experience to the community. Additionally, it would be very difficult (if not impossible) to maintain the historic integrity of the building according to preservation regulations and standards and add the modern amenities necessary for a comfortable theater experience. For example, the number of restrooms required for a 1,000 seat theater is far greater than the four small "closets" in the original theater. From the beginning the board had envisioned a fully-restored theater, but over time and after careful consideration, that vision has broadened to encompass an entire arts and cultural center that will act as a catalyst for an arts corridor along the Kennebec, and will boost the revitalization of downtown, contribute to the local economy, and elevate the quality of life. Much preparation work has been completed "behind the scenes," including multiple iterations of design plans, necessary environmental studies, development of cost estimates and feasibility studies. |
We have designed a 1,000 seat, wheelchair accessible arts and cultural center with an attached three-level ancillary building on land that we own just north of the historic theater. The restored theater will include modern amenities such as air conditioning, accessible seating in all areas including the balcony, state of the art sound and lighting systems, an expanded stage, and digital projection to show both new films and revisit the films of your past. There will be educational spaces and programming for youth and adults of all ages. The vision is elegant old world style with all the comforts and conveniences of today.
The attached building will support sustainability and ADA compliance and allow for full renovation and maximization of the historic building within National Park Service Standards. The new building, as required when building additions to historic buildings, will compliment but not compete with the historic building. It will be a modern building that will house various services necessary for full operation of the arts and cultural center such as modern restrooms, an elevator, an expanded lobby with an art gallery, concessions, ticketing, and spaces for art and learning. An additional two-level attached building will house a smaller 216 person capacity flexible multi-purpose space for use by the cultural center and the community, thus providing sustainable income to the center. It will have the capacity to convert to a small stage space, a room for film screening, a conference space, and more. The second level is planned to house a restaurant overlooking the Kennebec River. Will those that attended a theater showing in their youth recognize the theater when we are done? They certainly will. The theater is being restored in a very careful, accurate and deliberate way in order to bring back the beauty that so many before us had seen. Years of neglect and decay are being stripped away to reveal a wonderful, historically accurate restoration Augusta's beloved theater. All the colors of the original walls, ceilings, and decorative details will come alive again, renewed for the next generation. Your children and grand children will at long last be able to make the same sentimental connection that you once experienced. All that and more. |
The historic Colonial Theater.
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The Augusta Colonial Theater before renovation.
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The Augusta Colonial Theater today.
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This is the vision for a restored Augusta Colonial Theater and arts and cultural center. Design plans are subject to change.
Phase I includes complete restoration of the historic theater plus the construction of an attached 18,000 square foot building on the north side of the existing theater. It will provide modern restrooms, a box office, concessions, multi-function rooms, art spaces, a conference area, storage, elevators, loading, and green room / back of house functionality for a variety of uses. Completion of Phase I will allow us to be fully operational.
Phase II, to be completed at a later date or at the same time if funding is available, will include an additional 216 seat flexible use space and an upper-floor income producing restaurant overlooking the Kennebec, in order to aid in the sustainability of the center. Phase II is not necessary to become operational so the current focus is on completion of Phase I. Phase II will certainly add more revenue, ensuring the sustainability of the center, but it will also allow for a greater variety of events and programs for the community.
Phase I includes complete restoration of the historic theater plus the construction of an attached 18,000 square foot building on the north side of the existing theater. It will provide modern restrooms, a box office, concessions, multi-function rooms, art spaces, a conference area, storage, elevators, loading, and green room / back of house functionality for a variety of uses. Completion of Phase I will allow us to be fully operational.
Phase II, to be completed at a later date or at the same time if funding is available, will include an additional 216 seat flexible use space and an upper-floor income producing restaurant overlooking the Kennebec, in order to aid in the sustainability of the center. Phase II is not necessary to become operational so the current focus is on completion of Phase I. Phase II will certainly add more revenue, ensuring the sustainability of the center, but it will also allow for a greater variety of events and programs for the community.
Exterior finishes are yet to be determined. Final design of the building is subject to change. In this mock-up, the darker brown section shows the Phase I construction (3-level attached ancillary building) to take place concurrently with restoration of the historic building; the tan section shows the extent of Phase II (the two-level multi-purpose space and restaurant). In the world of historic restoration, building additions should complement and be compatible with, but can not match the original style, in order to preserve and maintain the historic character of the original historic building.
Main level plans call for an expanded stage in the theater, in order to accommodate a greater variety of performances. The Phase I and Phase II ancillary buildings are designed with large gathering spaces, loading areas, modern restrooms, an elevator, and an additional multi-purpose space.
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The upper level of the historic theater will again feature balcony seating, but it will also be open to the adjacent building for upper-level restrooms, concessions, spaces for art and an elevator to the main level. There will also be back of the house offices and meeting spaces. The upper level of the Phase II ancillary building is planned as a restaurant space.
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The basement level of the historic building will house a new mechanical room and will retain its resivior that was originally designed to equalize tidal water pressure to the building and to provide cooling to the building in the summer. All basement level restoration will include flood walls since it lies within the 100-year flood area. The basement of the Phase I adjacent building will house green rooms and storage for instruments, theater props and costumes, and more.
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Thanks to the hard work of volunteers, the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations, families and friends, this long-time dream is happening. We invite you to join us in this multi million dollar restoration of The Augusta Colonial Theater. Your tax deductible donation, large or small, will help complete the restoration and open the doors once again to the public. We hope you will become a part of it all by making your pledge or donation to help complete the restoration as soon as possible. We look forward to the day we all meet inside The Colonial to enjoy friends, family, and of course - a great show!
