Resolving spatial conflict in adaptive reuse: the case for warehouse movie theatres

Thesis Statement This research endeavor is directed at designing architecture to be an integral component of the entertainment experience which it houses. The design of each entertainment environment may serve as an accent or hindrance to this objective. The primary design approach for this project will be a movie theater complex that is innovative in its architectural design technologies while simultaneously seeking the nostalgic excitement of the " big show" anticipation prevalent in the 1920s and 30s movie era. However, practicality will dictate that the new entertainment complex is responsive to patron activities and industry forecasts. The architecturally significant element of this research lies in the introduction of environmentally exciting spaces within an existing shell. While the goal of this project has been established, its methods and materials will be derived from the existence of a typical, functional warehouse structure intended for a retail establishment. In this case, a K-Mart. Several issues will arise in the attempt to integrate the new facility and the basic existing shell. These include spatial issues such as American Disability Act (ADA) compliance, stadium seating, elevated projection rooms, THX certification requirements and the inherent conflicts within these problems. Mission Statement An entertainment complex can be innovative in its architectural design technologies while simultaneously alluding to the nostalgic excitement of the "night out" anticipation prevalent in the 1920s and 30s motion picture era. Adaptively reused warehouse structures, when designed appropriately, can be as effective in its theatricality as similar facilities specifically designed for this purpose. Context Statement The underlying pragmatic objective proposed will be accomplished through the reutilization of an existing structure, abandoned and without apparent immediate reuse. It is proposed that communities where these structures are resurrected experience significant improvement in their self-esteem. One of the byproducts of modernizing an existing building is that it often extends to the surrounding community where it generates further adaptive reuse efforts. A Project of Pragmatism The reason why there is an unusually high number of abandoned K-Marts is described in the following scenario. In today's retail warehouse market, typically what happens is smaller retail businesses are built for the sole purpose of establishing a market presence in a particular community, normally encompassing 3-7 years. In that time the demands of their clientele, predictions of market dynamics, community needs and potential added revenue assessed for the purpose of possible expansion. Part of this assessment includes additional services from other market segments. For example, a smaller K-Mart will have your typical department store retail items, such as clothes, appliances and electronics. After several years, a financial assessment is done and it is determined that the marketplace in that community can handle the expansion of the K-Mart. The new store will include additional retail goods, such as food, garden supplies, salons, banking, video rentals, etc. At this point, the original K-Mart is abandoned, and a new Super K-Mart is constructed. A good example of this can be seen in Lubbock, Texas, where the initial presence of K-Mart stores occurred at two locations. Both were abandoned in anticipation of moving into a significantly larger facility for the above mentioned reasons. These represent key example s in which user environment has largely been overlooked. It is a tremendous waste of resources to abandon these structures even though sometimes it is an economical solution to the retail warehouse industry. The alternative proposed in this paper is economically beneficial because the design o f a widely applicable movie theater has the potential to save millions to developers in time and expenditures.