Old Ipswich Town Hall Arts & Entertainment Center
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Thomas Mayo
Associates / Architects & Urban Designers participated
as a primary member of the development team that won the Town of Ipswich
competition to purchase and develop the former Ipswich Town Hall and District
Court Building. TMA is currently
working with the new building owner, Entertainment Management Corporation to
develop the building. The adaptive
reuse of the Old Ipswich Town Hall will convert the formerly vacant building
into a vibrant and exciting new Entertainment/ Cultural Center for downtown
Ipswich. TMA’s concept
for the reuse of this historically significant downtown landmark includes a
340-seat Theater for film, musical and live theatrical productions on
the upper level, a Restaurant, and other retail uses on the main level, and a
Coffee House/Jazz Club, which would provide a smaller venue for local and
regional performing artists, on the lower level. Our development team’s vision for the Old
Town Hall is that the project will build on, and strengthen, the growing
local and regional popularity of Ipswich restaurants, galleries and retail
shops. TMA’s proposed design takes advantage
of the historic character and past of the building. The upper level Theater, for example, will
actually be a restoring of the large 2-story space originally built in 1833
as a Unitarian Church, and later expanded in 1876 as the Ipswich Town
Hall. This magnificent space has
remained “hidden” since the mid 1980's when it was divided up into town
offices. In addition to the large
meeting hall space, the restoration plan will utilize the original raised
stage area and balcony, and restore and reuse interior historic details, such
as the balcony railing, the large ceiling medallions, decorative cove and
pilaster moldings, window casings, and doorways. A new grand entrance lobby will be
constructed at the South Main Street entrance to the building with stairways
leading to the upper level Theater.
The entrance lobby will also open to the existing center corridor
leading to the back of the building. TMA’s concept is to treat this interior central
corridor as a “mini galleria” with mullioned glass interior storefronts for
the retail spaces. On the first floor, the plan utilizes the original curved
corridor walls, tin ceilings, as well as many of the historically significant
doors, trim and remaining historic detailing.
The plan includes the reuse of existing carved wood courtroom
furnishings in the project. The renovation plans include the
construction of a copy of the original front portico, shown in early 1900's
photos of the Old Ipswich Town Hall, as the new entrance to the building.
This new South Main Street entrance would be designed to accommodate
handicapped accessibility and includes restoring and reuse of the existing
granite steps. The plans also include preserving the existing historic
decorative exterior details and window trim of the building. The design will
maintain the present decorative door frame and architrave at the Elm Street
building entrance, and restore the original larger opening in the right-hand
portion of the architrave with a wood-mullioned storefront design that would
reflect the historic character of the building. The plans include the construction of a new
raised deck on the park side of the building which will serve a dual purpose.
First, it would be utilized as a small outdoor dining area for the
Restaurant, and, secondly, it would be utilized as an outdoor stage for
“theater in the park” type plays or musical events. As a part of the projects’ traffic/parking
plan developed in conjunction with the Town of Ipswich, metered parking
and/or time limit parking will be implemented in the lots and surrounding
streets in order to keep these spaces available for the commercial uses in
the area, while also allowing overnight parking for area residents. The new Entertainment/Cultural Center will
help to reinforce the overall goals of economic and cultural growth for the
Town of Ipswich, not only by bringing additional property taxes to the Town,
but in helping to stimulate additional income for downtown businesses. The
Entertainment/ Cultural Center will create new employment opportunities and
new markets, and responds to the community need for a center which will
provide entertainment for all ages.
The project will play a major role in the revitalization of the “SoCho District,” an area of town which is beginning to
establish itself as an arts and cultural destination, not only for Ipswich,
but for surrounding communities. |
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