2 New Penn Cinema Projects
JKR Partners is currently designing two new construction Penn Cinema theater projects in Lititz, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. The Lititz project will feature a 425-seat IMAX theater in a 20,000-square-foot-complex located near the existing Penn Cinema 14-screen multiplex. The new building that also includes two 5,000-square-foot restaurants will be separated from the existing theater by a courtyard. The $5 million project is designed to complement the massing and materiality of the existing building. One design objective for the exterior of the theater was to express the unique profile of the IMAX by emphasizing the angles of the stadium seating and sloped ceiling. The interior design combines industrial elements such as concrete floors and exposed roof structure, with more refined and whimsical elements such as sophisticated lighting and painted graphics, creating an overall balance that feels casual, fun and fresh. Construction is set to begin this summer with the grand opening scheduled for this November.
The second project, Penn Cinema Riverfront will be located in the downtown riverfront area of Wilmington, Delaware. This theater will have 15-full stadium seating auditoriums along with a full IMAX. The state-of-the-art theater will fit in contextually with the surrounding entertainment district by incorporating the industrial feel but with a flair for the dramatic that is consistent with a cinema. The large scale of the building along with dramatic lighting and timeless finishes will serve as an anchor for the development. Construction is scheduled to start this fall with the theater’s opening Memorial Day 2011.