The extensive $13.6 million revitalization of the Alberta Bair Theater marks the culmination of a ten-year endeavor to revitalize this esteemed venue. Originally inaugurated as the Fox Theatre in 1931, the space served as a regional hub for both film and stage productions. Crafted by architect Robert C. Reamer and funded partially by the 20th Century Fox Corporation, which acquired the land from Charles M. Bair, it stood out as the last Art Deco-style theater in the United States commissioned by 20th Century Fox.
The original design featured elegant crystal chandeliers, period-specific design elements, opulent dressing rooms, and intricate stage embellishments. However, much of this historical charm was lost during the mid-80s fly loft expansion and facility overhaul aimed at accommodating larger theatrical and musical performances in this remote region. The few remaining Art Deco details were meticulously preserved and showcased in the new design.
Conducting a thorough feasibility study to establish priorities, the renovation and expansion primarily concentrated on enhancing the visitor experience, including accessibility, and overall building performance. Commencing at the entrance, the project extended the building's footprint to reclaim sidewalk space for an expanded lobby and ticketing area, as well as to facilitate improved vertical circulation and ADA access. The two-story, 4,800-square-foot addition, encased in a glass curtain wall system, establishes a visual connection to the activities inside the theater. A metal fabric scrim, strategically placed on parts of the glass, reduces energy loads and adds a playful dynamic to the exterior aesthetic when lifted at the corner. This addition not only enhances the ticketing and lobby experience but also contributes to guest comfort through a remodeled theatrical house with updated acoustics, new seating, improved balcony-level seating, and additional restroom facilities.
While less conspicuous, the back-of-house enhancements are equally crucial, encompassing upgrades to the building's structural, mechanical, electrical, roofing, and plumbing systems. Performance spaces, including stage rigging, catwalks, lighting, and audiovisual capabilities, were also modernized.
The 26,800-square-foot theater, featuring 1,390 seats, remains the sole performing arts center in the Northern Rockies, spanning from Spokane, Washington, to Denver, Colorado, fully equipped to host major professional touring companies and artists. In alignment with its mission, the Alberta Bair continues to offer educational programming for approximately 22,000 school children annually. With this comprehensive renovation, the theater has been reinstated as a premier performance venue, serving as a vital resource for the greater Billings region, encompassing a population of 400,000, and the entire intermountain region.
Cushing Terrell Design Team
Joel Anderson (Design Lead), Bob LaPerle (Project Manager/Architect), Kevin Nelson (Project Architect), Dane Jorgenson (Structural Engineer), Mallory Johnson (Architect), Michael Gieser (Electrical Engineer), Raelynn Meissner (Mechanical Engineer), Madeline Rajtar (Interior Designer), Ralph Habeck (BIM/CADD Technician)
Project Team
Architecture/Interiors: Cushing Terrell
Contractor: Langlas & Associates
Civil Engineer: Sanderson Stewart
Structural Engineer: Cushing Terrell
Mechanical Engineer: Cushing Terrell
Electrical Engineer: Cushing Terrell
Geotechnical Engineer: SK Geotechnical
Theater Planning/Lighting Design: Schuler Shook
Interior designer: Cushing Terrell
Acoustical Engineer: Threshold Acoustics
Theatrical/AV: Schuler Shook
Photography
James Ray Spahn
Zakara Photography
