Making a “Modern Ruin”: Palace Theatre in St. Paul

Wenger | J.R. Clancy: When the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, purchased the Palace Theatre in the fall of 2015, the run-down building was close to condemnation. Built in 1916, the Palace first served the vaudeville circuit, later became a movie house and eventually closed for regular use in 1977.

Last month the Palace re-opened to rave reviews as a contemporary music venue, blending modern upgrades to equipment and amenities with deteriorated, preserved aesthetics. Schuler Shook and Oertel Architects were key members of the project team.