News

February 12, 2009

NH Theater Cited by AIA

The New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has presented its Excellence in Architecture award to The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, and to TMS Architects of Portsmouth for the renovation of its Beaux Arts lower lobby. The award was presented at the chapter's 25th annual awards banquet and was accepted by Patricia Lynch, executive director of the Music Hall, John Merkle and Nicole Martineau of TMS Architects, and John DeStefano, construction manager of DeStefano & Associates.

The 1878 structure, the oldest theater in New Hampshire, has housed the nonprofit arts center since 1988. In 2003 the theater was designated by the U.S. Senate as an "American Treasure" in the federal "Save America's Treasures" program sponsored by the National Parks Service (NPS) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP).

"We are just ecstatic for The Music Hall that the new lobby space is proving to be successful on so many levels and is as treasured as the historic theater above," said TMS' Merkle. He and his team have been directing the restoration of The Music Hall since 2003. In 2006, the restored proscenium arch was unveiled, followed by the restored ceiling dome in 2007. The arch and dome were awarded a 2008 Preservation Achievement Award by the NH Preservation Alliance earlier this year.

EverGreene Painting Studios of New York City did the decorative painting throughout the theater. EverGreene founder Jeff Greene calls The Music Hall "one of the most exciting archaeological finds I've ever come across. We've worked in over 200 theaters, and this artwork was more exuberant than anything we've uncovered before."

"For 130 years The Music Hall has served a critical role in the community," said Lynch. "With this year's transformative lobby renovation and plans for future work, we hopt to secure the legacy of this historic building, and strengthen and advance this American Treasure for the Arts as a cultural anchor for all New England."