New York architect Diller Scofidio + Renfro will renovate Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kalita Humphreys Theatre in Dallas.
The renovation masterplan will connect the theatre with the Katy Trail path and the William Dean Park, with the neighbourhoods of Uptown, Turtle Creek and Oak Lawn to create a large public area.
A more detailed plan will be revealed to the city’s Office of Arts and Culture by the end of 2020 when Dallas City Council rule on the scheme’s final approval.
Kevin Moriarty, Dallas Theater Centre’s artistic director, said: "We are thrilled to partner with the architects at Diller Scofidio + Renfro as well as the city of Dallas and the entire community to restore the Kalita to its original glory, and expand opportunities for theatre artists, students and audiences.
"By creating new spaces and opening up the site, the new master plan will boost the natural beauty of the theatre’s surroundings and improve its ability to serve as a welcoming, accessible space for all."
Charles Renfro, Diller Scofidio + Renfro founder, said: "This project is an opportunity to restore the Kalita Humphreys – one of Dallas’s most overlooked pieces of architecture – to its rightful place in the pantheon of design masterpieces in the city. Not only is it Frank Lloyd Wright’s only built theatre, but it has also made significant contributions to the way theatre has been presented and seen.
"Since it was built, the theatre’s bucolic setting between Turtle Creek and the Katy Trail has been overwhelmed by parking lots and roadways."
The firm will work alongside American development company Hillwood Urban as project manager.
Image: The Kalita Humphreys Theatre (Sisdisco/Public Domain)
