Originally constructed in 1911, I.S.77Q’s auditorium had been significantly altered during a 1980s modernization that compromised its historic integrity. The skylights and arched stage windows were enclosed, original wood flooring was covered with VCT tile, and suspended 2×4 fluorescent lighting was installed. The design team carefully peeled back these interventions to restore the space to its former grandeur.
New solid maple wood flooring replaced the VCT. The proscenium and stage doors were meticulously refinished, with custom wood moldings and profiles fabricated to match original detailing. Behind a drywall partition, the team uncovered intricate historic plasterwork and boarded-up windows, which were fully restored to bring natural light back into space. A new custom-built principal’s bench was added beneath the reopened windows to complement the revived architecture.