Flushing RKO Keith’s

Queens, NY

Built in 1928, per designs by architect Thomas Lamb, the three-story Flushing RKO Keith's Theater originally staged vaudeville performances and was later used for cinema until it closed in the 1980s. After more than two decades of vacancy and deferred maintenance, the corner property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, is now being redeveloped into a 16-story, 405,000-square-foot mixed-use building.

The redevelopment centers around the former theater lobby, which will be adaptively reused as the entrance to the new residential units. Consisting of the former Ticket Lobby and Grand Foyer, the theater lobby was designated as an interior landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in 1984.

Because of its historical nature, we were called in to design the adaptive reuse and guide the plaster restoration. To simplify the complex project, implementation work was divided into two phases. The first included temporary removal and salvage for off-site storage, as well as the restoration of existing three-coat plaster work and related cast plaster, wood, metal and composite materials. For this, we prepared the construction documents for the selective removal and salvage, as well as protection of the Landmark site, and secured LPC approval at Public Hearing.

Currently, all the plasterwork and other salvaged historic features are being treated off site. The second phase of the project will reinstall this historic fabric— in addition to replicating other components, restoring the finishes, and integrating all required building systems, including HVAC, fire protection, security, etc.

Client
Flushing Square LLC (2014 – 2016)

XIN Development (2016 – Present)                                

Services
Architecture, Historic Preservation, Architectural, Fine Arts and Fabrics Conservation

Project Team
Archival Research and NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Filing: Jacqueline Peu-Duvallon Historic Preservation Consulting, LLC (JDP HPC)
Architectural Materials Conservation: Integrated Conservation Resources (ICR)
Fine Arts Conservation: Opus Architectural Arts (Opus)
Fabrics Conservator: Jay Cardinal Preservation Consultants, Inc.
Architectural Photography: RAZUM Media
Architect (New Construction): Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects LLP
Structural Engineer: WSP USA
M/E/P Engineer: Edwards & Zuck, D.P.C.
Removals Engineer: Howard I. Shapiro & Associates Consulting Engineers, PC                        

Size
10,000 SF

Completion
Phase I (Temporary Removals): 2019
Phase II (Installation and Restoration): 2022