ICON Architecture

Reviving a Historic Landmark

Located in downtown Fitchburg, the Theater Block includes a two-story commercial building and a historic 1,751-seat theater. Originally opened on February 7, 1929, the theater served as a movie house and live performance venue—often hosting Vaudeville acts—and featured a Wurlitzer Style 190 pipe organ. It closed in the early 1980s and had since fallen into disrepair.

In the 2010s, Fitchburg State University acquired the property with the vision of transforming it into a vibrant performing arts center. The project was designed in three phases:

Phase One: Game Studio + ideaLab

Completed Fall 2018

Phase One began with a full assessment of the Theater Block and resulted in the creation of the FSU Game Studio + ideaLab, an innovative space for digital creativity, game development, and student collaboration.

Phase Two: Theater Restoration

Design Completed – Not Funded for Construction

Phase Two focused on restoring the historic theater into a modern performance venue:

• 1,200-seat auditorium (700 orchestra / 500 mezzanine)

• Flexible seating layout for smaller performances

• Restored stage and fly loft with updated theatrical equipment

• Expanded lobby and function space using adjacent storefronts

• New circulation towers, loading dock, and backstage corridors

Although full construction documents were completed, this phase has not yet received funding for construction.

Phase Three: Black Box Theater

Design Completed – Not Funded for Construction

The final phase proposed a 200-seat black box theater designed for flexibility and innovation:

• Wraparound audience balcony

• Tension grid system for lighting and rigging

• Dedicated back-of-house spaces including a scene shop