In 2010, our team undertook a comprehensive historic stucco restoration of the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., a landmark dating back to 1910. This project was part of a broader $30 million renovation aimed at returning the theater to its original Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance, and neoclassical grandeur. The restoration adhered to National Park Service Tax Credit Standards, ensuring both structural integrity and historical accuracy.
The stucco restoration focused on the theater's exterior, which had been concealed under layers of paint and modern materials over the years. Our team meticulously removed these layers to reveal the original white Roman brick façade. We then repaired and repainted the stucco elements to match the theater's 1910 appearance, restoring its ornate detailing and classical features. This process not only preserved the building's historical aesthetics but also contributed to the revitalization of the U Street corridor.
A significant challenge during the restoration was the preservation of the theater's structural elements, including its 40 to 60-foot-tall masonry walls and ornate balcony columns. To address this, we implemented traditional pit-type underpinning, hollow bar micropiles, and structural steel needle shoring. These methods provided temporary and permanent support, allowing for the safe excavation of a 10,300-square-foot basement beneath the existing structure.
The Howard Theatre's restoration received several accolades, including the 2012 Washington Building Congress Craftsmanship Award for underpinning and excavation, and the 2013 Craftsmanship Awards for cast-in-place concrete, plaster, and drywall . The project not only preserved a significant piece of African American cultural history but also spurred economic development in the Shaw neighborhood. The theater reopened in April 2012, featuring performances by artists such as Wale, Wanda Sykes, and Chaka Khan.
This restoration stands as a testament to our commitment to preserving architectural heritage while adapting historic structures for contemporary use.