Header: The Castro Theatre by Bruce Damonte
CAW Architects, a firm known for its careful preservation of Northern California’s architectural heritage, has recently completed three theatres that connect historic preservation with modern technical innovation.
From the $41 million restoration of San Francisco’s legendary Castro Theatre to the topography-driven “resculpting” of UC Berkeley’s Hearst Greek Theatre and the ground-up industrial craftsmanship of Sacramento’s Channel 24, CAW’s latest work ensures that the region’s most beloved gathering places remain vibrant, inclusive and future-ready.
The Castro Theatre
In collaboration with preservation architects Page & Turnbull and theatre consultants Shalleck Collaborative, CAW led the $41 million rehabilitation of the iconic Castro Theatre, which is one of San Francisco’s most cherished landmarks and a long-standing sanctuary for LGBTQ+ culture.
Originally constructed in 1922 by architect Timothy Pflueger, the movie palace is celebrated for its lavish interior, blending Spanish, Asian, Italian and Art Deco influences. Partnering with Another Planet Entertainment, the design team undertook a transformative renovation that balances rigorous historic preservation with the evolving demands of contemporary performance.
Central to the project’s success is a first-of-its-kind custom, movable orchestra floor system that allows the venue to transition between a classic raked seating configuration for film and a flat floor for standing-room live music performances. For Christopher Wasney from CAW, the importance of the theatre demanded this level of innovation.
“The primary challenge was to allow the building to honour its role as a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ culture and classic cinema while adapting it to meet the demands of live performances. The bespoke movable floor system creates the classic raked-seated orchestra, which can adapt quickly for a standing-room live music event.”
Christopher Wasney, FAIA, Principal at CAW
The rehabilitation celebrates the theatre’s artistry through the revitalisation of the original painted ceiling and sgraffito murals, meticulously conserved by EverGreene Architectural Arts. The team sensitively integrated modern enhancements, including the world’s largest digital organ and state-of-the-art theatrical systems, with fully ADA-accessible seating and stage facilities. This commitment to inclusivity was reinforced by BuildIT, the world’s first LGBTQ construction advocacy organisation, ensuring the Castro Theatre remains a global beacon for the arts for generations to come. Internationally renowned singer-songwriter Sam Smith kicked off the reopening of the historic theatre with a two-week residency.
“Leading up to this, all of our hearts have just been so full of excitement and love and gratitude to be able to open this theatre in this way. In the UK, where I’m from, we have some beautiful rooms, but when it comes to rooms that are for queer people and for gay people, it’s quite hard to find. Nothing… nothing ever matches this room, so it is an honour to be with you tonight.”
Sam Smith
Channel 24
In Sacramento, CAW collaborated with Ellis Architects to debut Channel 24, a newly constructed 40,614 SF live entertainment venue designed for 2,200 patrons. Commissioned by Another Planet Entertainment, the project fulfils a vision of bringing a state-of-the-art mid-sized music venue to a region long underserved by performance spaces of this scale. The design draws inspiration from the industrial character of the surrounding neighbourhood, expressed through a raw material palette of exposed concrete, metal panelling and visible structure.
Inside the nearly column-free hall, 100-foot-long steel roof trusses and steeply raked side balconies cantilever 35 feet into the space, bringing patrons closer to the stage while providing exceptional sightlines from every angle. Engineering solutions are very important for both how well the venue works and how comfortable it is: the balconies have special dampers to reduce vibrations from the audience, and a nine-inch thick concrete roof helps keep the sound contained.
This innovative approach earned the project the 2025 Structural Engineers Association Award for Excellence, establishing Channel 24 as a cultural landmark that energises Sacramento’s evolving urban core.
Hearst Greek Theatre
At UC Berkeley, CAW completed its third major project for the Hearst Greek Theatre, a National Historic Landmark and perennial favourite among the country’s greatest amphitheatres. The project involved resculpting the entire eastern portion of the site, transforming a formerly steep and uncomfortable lawn into a terraced, accessible seating area that accommodates approximately 3,000 guests. By “balancing the site” (meaning reusing excavated earth to limit off-haul), the team created a new pedestrian plaza and promenade at the top of the bowl.
A key challenge was integrating a required fire access lane for a neighbouring dormitory, which the architects successfully disguised as a vibrant pedestrian promenade using permeable pavers. To respect the 1903 original amphitheatre, CAW utilised a spare, bulletproof palette of concrete, natural turf and Bega site lighting. The result is a venue that feels both familiar and fundamentally improved.
“I hoped that long-time Greek-goers would be slightly disoriented. Puzzled looks gave way to satisfaction regarding how much easier it is to move about the site and how much more comfortable the terraced lawn is, yet still with perfect sightlines.”
Christopher Wasney
Source: v2com newswire
