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the Palace children's theater
The Palace Theater in Georgetown, Texas, began its journey in 1925 as a movie picture theater showcasing silent films. Later, it transformed into an Art Deco venue for acting and musicals. Recently, the theater launched a children’s program that quickly became so popular they had to turn away hundreds of children each summer due to a lack of space. This overwhelming demand sparked the creation of the Palace Children’s Theater.
Project team
Gary Wang, AIA, Principal Architect
Zicheng Xu
Sonam Tsering
Michael Deere
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MJ Structures, Structural Engineer
Bay + Associates, MEP
Matkin Hoover, Civil Engineer
Mark Word Design, Landscape
Leonid Furmansky, Photographer
As a non-profit, the Palace prioritizes children’s programming over luxury, staying true to its mission. During the design process, the Building Committee consistently chose practical options over refined ones, such as selecting utilitarian cubbies instead of elaborate lobby millwork. This strategy ensures that any savings can be redirected to benefit students and fund scholarships.
Since its opening, the new building has been a tremendous success within the community, with full-capacity classes each summer since 2021.
Paying homage to the original Art Deco style of the Palace Theater and its iconic marquee, we designed the stone facade to step upward at the northwest corner of the building. These historical references are intentionally subtle, respecting the past without being overt.
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