Rebirth of a Community Landmark

The United Theatre

Westerly, Rhode Island

The restoration of The United Theatre provided a unique opportunity, not only to protect and restore a historic 1926 Vaudeville landmark, but also to produce a magnet for tourism and activity in Westerly’s downtown area. Tecton designed comprehensive renovations to both the original theater and an adjacent building, creating a vibrant community center for the arts. The renovated complex features three auditoriums on two levels, all accessed from the restored original theater lobby. This includes a versatile black-box performance theater for up to 650 people, a smaller cinema for films, and a unique 30 seat storefront “legacy” theater, furnished with historic seating and lighting from The United. In addition to performance facilities, The United also includes educational space for classes, workshops and studios in music, film, visual and performing arts.