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A Modern, Mid-sized Performing Arts Center and Home for the Spokane Symphony
Originally built as a 2300-seat movie theater, the renovated Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox seats approximately 1600, and serves as a much-needed mid-sized performance venue in the heart of the city. It has also become the home for the Spokane Symphony and several other local performing arts organizations.
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical and ADA upgrades were essential to the Theater's new use as a performing arts venue. By reconfiguring the retail space that once ringed the building, the Theater gained much-needed space for additional dressing rooms, a staging area for catering, ticket office, storage, and an expanded lobby.
One of the Theater’s most stunning features is its intricate art deco wall murals and ceiling. Years of accumulated cigarette smoke and popcorn grease had obscured the original vibrant colors of the decorative painting throughout the Theater. In addition, many of the murals had been covered with red paint during an attempt to modernize the color scheme at some time in the recent past. Restoration of these priceless Art Deco murals was accomplished with the help of a Save America's Treasures grant.
The original hand-painted fire curtain was discovered in the Theater, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts aided in cleaning and restoring this magnificent piece of art.
Our construction partners were:
- Cosler Designs, theatrical design
- Evergreene Painting Studios
- Jaffe Holden, acoustical engineers
- L&S Structural Engineers
- NAC Architecture, architects
- Roen Associates, project management
- Walker Construction Company, contractor
An Economic Catalyst
The renovation of historic movie theaters as performance venues has proved to be a successful catalyst in downtown revitalizations in cities across America. A vibrant cultural atmosphere makes a city a better place for all its residents, and an attractive and competitive market for new and growing businesses. Just as the Davenport Hotel renovation has had a positive and energizing impact on downtown Spokane, the restoration of Martin Woldson Theater as The Fox contributes to Spokane’s urban renaissance and has become a prominent anchor of the dynamic Davenport Arts District. The Theater…
- Contributes to the vitality of downtown Spokane and the Inland Northwest with an economic impact in excess of $16 million annually
- Revitalized an entire city block in one of the lowest income census tracts in the state
- Created 175 construction jobs over 18 months of restoration
Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox is for Everyone
Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox is available to non-profit arts organizations and other groups for presentations and events in the Hall and in the Lobby. An operating reserve of $4.5 million has ensured the sustainability of the facility. The Theater…
- Serves local non-profit arts organizations and children’s groups
- Supports local universities, community colleges, and K-12 school districts with educational programming
- Provides a variety of entertainment opportunities for diverse groups
- Provides a venue for catered events, business receptions, corporate meetings, plenary sessions and more
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