Palace Theatre
Since opening in 1913, the Palace Theatre became the country’s premier vaudeville venue. As a Broadway theatre, it has hosted award-winning musicals and live performances by Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and countless others. In 1987, the interior auditorium was designated a NYC landmark. The building’s renovation included raising the theatre structure 30 feet above grade to accommodate new retail and the new lobby.
Having experienced various modifications over its long history, the recent complete renovation restored the interior’s former glory while also meeting current codes with current technology. Working with the architectural team, FMS designed a new family of decorative light fixtures, inspired by the long lost originals. The custom fixture family includes a new, 18 foot tall chandelier, various bronze and faux alabaster bowl fixtures as well as other fixture types integrated into the architecture to boost illumination levels to modern day expectations. Rigorous emergency lighting requirements were satisfied by various types of step lights responding to the historic architecture.
2025 AIA NY Chapter Citation for Innovation in Preservation