Hello Friends of DBA. After a long hiatus from the pandemic, as we all begin to heal and as our economy begins to strengthen, we are excited to report that we have been busy and are looking forward to sharing some of our latest institutional work with you, our friends and clients. We are proud to say that this work will help bring our community back together! We're dedicated to building bridges between the variety of cultures that make up our incredibly diverse community and we think these projects do just that. We hope they interest and excite you as much as they do us. We welcome your comments and questions.
We hope you have remained healthy and safe throughout the pandemic and look forward to working with all of you in the future.
David Burke, AIA
Architect
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Community Arts & Entertainment
The Ritz Theater - Newburgh, NY
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THE RITZ IS OPEN! David Burke Architects and the team at Safe Harbors on the Hudson recently received approval to move forward with the full renovation of The Ritz Theater in Newburgh, NY. The Ritz has long stood dormant and locals know it as an old, abandoned building with a lawn that many use as a convenient pass-through. But what most people don’t know is that The Ritz has a long and robust history of being the “it” place for new acts. If you could make it in Newburgh, you could make it anywhere! We’re excited to be a part of the renovation of this important piece of Hudson Valley history, bringing new life and innovative solutions to the theater. |
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The Ritz Theater hosted everything from Vaudeville and live music to local holiday celebrations. |
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The building was originally constructed in 1883 as a warehouse for the manufacture of overalls, plumbing supplies, and cigars. In 1913, Cohen’s Opera House was created within the building and many legends of the Vaudeville era played on its stage. In 1933, Eugene Levy purchased the theater, renovated it, and renamed it The Ritz. It was then that the theater began it’s most illustrious chapter with big-name films and live performances by stars such as Ella Fitzgerald and Red Skelton. Even Lucille Ball made her stage debut at The Ritz in December of 1941, alongside her husband, Desi Arnaz. To read more about the history of The Ritz, click here.
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A look inside the old Ritz lobby shows the stylized glamour of the past. |
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The lobby will boast floor-to-ceiling glass hugged by heavy timber to create an open and inviting space for the community to feel welcomed and engaged. |
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One of our most exciting solutions is the addition of a new lobby on the exterior of the buildings (left). Our new lobby will be constructed of a heavy timber frame, glass in-fill panels and a green roof to capture rainwater, improve park habitat, and reduce heat island effect. The lobby design allows for minimal intrusion to the existing theater space while providing a captivating and inviting entrance, fully visible from the street and lawn. It’s through this kind of thoughtful design that we hope to create spaces which draw people in and captivate the community. |
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These mobile acoustic panels were designed to be reflective on one side and absorptive on the other to adapt to any kind of acoustic performance. These panels can be moved into any configuration to support dozens of layouts, depending on the event. |
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Energy & Environmental Master Planning
International Cultural Institution – Shawangunk, New York
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We’re excited to announce the start of work on a cultural master plan with environmental and ecological planner One Nature. The 60 acre site, located in shadow of the Shawangunk mountain range in upstate New York, will bring a new home to this cultural institution with a focus on environmental stewardship, ecological restoration and the use of renewable resources as a driver for site organization and building design. We are honored to be a part of this project as it will continue to focus our efforts on environmental restoration and community building. |
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For ongoing updates on The Ritz and other projects, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook
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David Burke Architects
Beacon, NY 12508
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