ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Wilson Butler Architects revives Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford

architecture-design · 2026-05-11

Wilson Butler Architects (WBA) completed a $37 million renovation of the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Originally opened in 1923 as a vaudeville hall designed by Frank Leary and Frank Walker, the Georgian Revival-style venue was saved from demolition in the 1980s by a local preservation movement. The project restored ornamental plaster, decorative painting, murals, millwork, and historic finishes based on archival research. New features include upgraded seating, restrooms, ADA access, a grand lobby, second-floor lounge, rehearsal studios, and a basement speakeasy. The theater now hosts five distinct venues and aims to function as contemporary civic infrastructure, with LED displays on the historic marquee and improved street visibility. Lead project interior designer Rebecca Durante noted that theatergoing today is about connection and community. Lead project architect Chris Dynia emphasized reclaiming underused spaces to expand the mission without expanding the footprint.

Key facts

  • Wilson Butler Architects renovated the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
  • The $37 million renovation repurposed the vaudeville hall as a contemporary multi-venue cultural destination.
  • Zeiterion Theater opened in 1923, designed by Frank Leary and Frank Walker.
  • Owner Barney Zeitz envisioned the hall as a 'palace for the people.'
  • The theater was almost demolished in the 1980s but saved by a local community preservation movement.
  • Restoration included ornamental plaster, decorative painting, murals, millwork, and historic finishes.
  • New spaces include a grand lobby, second-floor lounge, rehearsal studios, and a basement speakeasy.
  • The project adhered to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.

Entities

Artists

  • Frank Leary
  • Frank Walker
  • Barney Zeitz
  • Rebecca Durante
  • Chris Dynia

Institutions

  • Wilson Butler Architects
  • Zeiterion Theatre
  • Funk & Wilcox
  • Secretary of the Interior

Locations

  • New Bedford
  • Massachusetts
  • Boston
  • Dorchester
  • Jersey City
  • New Jersey
  • Brooklyn

Sources