In the heart of Corona del Mar, California, this historic theater was the touchstone for the community — a place where generations had met, laughed and cried. The theater, however, had fallen into grave disrepair over the years and was in jeopardy of the wrecking ball, a fate no one wanted to see. A new owner, with a bold vision, felt a kinship with the theater and stepped in to save this emblem from just such a fate. A firm facelift, with sensitivity to the theater’s past, was developed with a modern rendering of the façade. The introduction of shaped panels, which could be read in an almost deco light, were introduced between the building’s existing uprights and respected the iconic Port signage. The addition of a glass entry revealed the inner life of the theater — beckoning the casual observer in. The development of a metal canopy, and punched metal panels with a mirrored background, further enlivened the building’s existing façade, helping to bring to life this once-aging beauty.
