233 West 125th Street
The Newly Redeveloped Victoria Theater Complex Pays Homage to the Rich History of Harlem
2 min read
Harlem is known worldwide for its vibrant culture and history. From this neighborhood originated the Harlem Renaissance, sparking the creation of some of the finest music, art, poetry, novels, and theatres of the 20th century. With this new outpouring of African American culture and arts came the construction of many great theaters. The Loew's Victoria Theater, for example, "was one of four contiguous venues on 125th Street, alongside the [iconic] Apollo Theater, the Harlem Opera House and the Alhambra Theater [making up what was] known as Harlem's Opera Row."
“The new building, designed by Aufgang Architects, utilizes the original building facade as its base, allowing guests to enter a newly restored Victoria Theater entrance and lobby.”
Prominent theater architect Thomas W. Lamb designed the Victoria Theater, which opened in 1917. Since then, the theater has experienced various changes and ultimately was abandoned in the late '90s. Not immune to gentrification, talks have constantly swirled about redeveloping the once grand theater for years. In 2017 ground was broken on a new redevelopment project that turned a once great theater into a multi-use structure. The new building, designed by Aufgang Architects, utilizes the original building facade as its base, allowing guests to enter a newly restored Victoria Theater entrance and lobby. The new Victoria theater project comprises a 25-story residential tower, a 26-story Marriott Renaissance hotel, a 25,000 square-foot arts venue operated by the iconic Apollo Theater, and 24,000 square feet of retail space. Not only is it a versatile building, but it is also now the tallest building in all of Harlem. In 2018, we were awarded the manufacturing and installation of all three passenger and two service elevators found within the Renaissance Marriot Hotel portion of the building. Working alongside G-Tech Associates, the projects elevator contractor. We also worked with Aufgang Architects, who designed the elevators, and Vertical System Analysis (VSA), the elevator consultants.
“Not only is it a versatile building, but the Victoria Tower Residencies is now the tallest building in all of Harlem.”
“The elevators feature custom graphics of Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, or Louie Armstrong.”
The overall design of these elevators encompasses few but impactful materials that create a modern ambiance with an understated elegance. All three passenger elevators inside the new Renaissance Marriot Hotel are roughly around the same proportions, give or take a few inches. The architects specified a modified version of the LEVELe-102 elevator system by Forms and Surfaces. The elevator design comprises nine vertical wall panels. The two side walls feature a Linq Woven Metal Brass "Sum CrossLinq" pattern panel in the center and two adjacent panels furnished with a Fused White Gold Mirror. The three elevators in this building have something unique about them - their back walls. They feature a ViviSpectra Spectrum glass with a single custom graphic of either Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker, or Louie Armstrong. A Fused White Gold Mirror panel accompanies the back wall on either side. All of the wall panels are wrapped with anodized aluminum binders. The drop ceiling is furnished using Fused Graphite with a Seastone finish. It has two downlights in the center of the ceiling and has side illumination via perimeter lighting. The fronts and doors of the elevator are faced with Fused White Gold in a Mist finish, and the bases are faced with Fused Graphite with a Seastone finish.
After years of vacancy, the newly redeveloped Victoria Theater complex pays homage to the rich history of Harlem. The sleek and modern design of the elevators is a unique space that embodies the culture and arts of the area. With only a few impactful materials used in its construction, the elevator creates an ambiance of sophistication and class.
