The Brooklyn Tabernacle
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kostow Greenwood Architects

This major renovation restored a decaying theater to its former glory

© Whitney Cox Photographer

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The Loew’s Metropolitan Theater, designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb, opened in 1918 with a capacity of nearly 4,000 seats. The theater underwent a renovation in 1948, converting it into a movie palace, and a more drastic renovation in 1978, redesigning it as a quadruplex movie theater. Vacant for many years, the building suffered from extensive deterioration.

The Brooklyn Tabernacle purchased the decaying theater and three adjacent buildings in 1997. The revitalization of the spaces included the restoration of the Fulton Street lobby, restoration of the theater auditorium with modifications to accommodate their choir and congregation, two new lobbies, a 300-seat dining hall, Sunday School classrooms, choir rehearsal space, a bookstore, and administrative offices.

This project presented several challenges. The architects had to unify the exterior of the building with facades on three different streets. The historic spaces within the building needed to meet certain technical requirements. Lastly, the client needed a new building program. The renovation of the exterior created a singular identity for the project, while the interior unified four separate buildings.

A fragment of fabric discovered during demolition provided the color scheme for the interior’s decorative painting as well as the custom fabric designs for the seating and acoustical panels. The Loew’s Metropolitan Theater re-opened in May 2002 as the new home for the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The theater now serves as the church’s sanctuary, seats 3,200 people and showcases the Tabernacle’s 250-voice choir.

Formal name of Project:
The Brooklyn Tabernacle

Location:
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gross square footage:
150,000 sq. ft.

Owner:
The Brooklyn Tabernacle
www.brooklyntabernacle.org

Architect:
Kostow Greenwood Architects
560 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Tel. (212) 334-0116
www.kostowgreenwood.com