Late last week, the Arden Theatre announced a planned expansion, with plans for a new 22,000 sqft facility at 62 N 2nd St., a few doors to the north of their main building.
Arden Theatre
Formerly the location of the Classic Lighting Emporium, this building was purchased by the Arden for $1.5M back in 2010. And in the near future, this building will become the Hamilton Family Arts Center and will allow the Arden to expand programming, especially for children and families.
Future Hamilton Family Arts Center
Currently, Arden Drama School lessons are taught all over their current building, including in the lobby and backstage. With 450 performances taking place over the course of the year, space constraints have become more of a challenge in recent years. This new expansion will do much to relieve the pressure on space at the Arden, with the addition of seven classrooms, a rehearsal hall, an eighty seat studio theater, a new lobby, a new parent lounge, a teacher resource center, and a space for prop and set construction. Take a look at these floorplans:
First floor
Second floor
In addition to providing new space for the Arden Theatre, this project should provide more life and energy on 2nd St., as it should attract new students and families to the new facility. Added windows in the front of the building should help light up the street as well.
Current view, looking south. Arden in the distance.
Rendering of the future. Doesn't the future look fun?
This project is expected to cost about $5.8M, of which $3.5M has already been raised. If you’re interested in making a contribution, click here for more info.
Congratulations to the people at the Arden Theatre on this exciting new project. We can’t wait to take a tour of the new facility someday soon!
And speaking of the Arden, just a friendly reminder to send us a photo of the worst rehab you can find in Philadelphia. The winner of this contest will get two tickets to a show this season at the Arden. Don’t wait, you just have a few more days to submit your entry!