Ford's Theatre Proposes to Add Space Across the Street

• December 11th 2018

by Nena Perry-Brown

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Between the announcement of commercial tenants for Takoma Theatre and the unveiling of Studio Theatre's plans to expand on 14th Street, it has been a busy month for major arts-related spaces and organizations in the DC area. Now Ford's Theatre is making headlines. 

After purchasing the building earlier this year, the Ford's Theatre Society has applied to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) to renovate and expand 512 10th Street NW (map) which sits across the street from the historic theater. The proposed project would construct a three-story addition, create 3,030 square feet of ground-floor retail and reconfigure the interior to create educational and office space, single- and double-height studio space, and a catering kitchen attached to indoor/outdoor event space.

If approved, the renovation would include demolition of some non-historic interior components, the addition of interior connections to the adjacent building at 514 10th Street NW, and alteration of the façade to create a more retail-compatible street presence.

The building was originally designed by noteworthy architect Arthur Heaton and constructed in 1920 as a PEPCO substation, although the façade looks completely different now courtesy of an extensive renovation in 1963. Martinez +Johnson, OTJ Architects and EHT Traceries round out the design and preservation team. 

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/fords-theatre-proposes-to-add-space-across-the-street/14794.