Tampa Theatre restoration moves toward 100th anniversary reopening

Elaine Lund, historic preservation staff, briefed the commission on work to restore the Tampa Theatre and Office Building, a local landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places. "The theater opened on 10/15/1926," Lund said, and staff is aiming to restore both the exterior and historic interior features in time for the building's centennial.

Lund described exterior work reviewed by the Architectural Review Commission — masonry cleaning, sign repainting and minor repairs — and a major interior effort requiring multilevel scaffolding so expert conservators can access ornate plaster and painted finishes. She said the project includes structural work to the pit below the stage, installation of a new organ lift and upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems to support both performance and expanding education programs.

The office portion adjacent to the lobby will be converted to support green‑room space, storage and classrooms, and staff said more than 3,000 square feet of underused office and storage space on the Florida Avenue side is being readapted for educational use. Lund said teams are working with restoration specialists and that the restoration will require careful paint and plaster replication by experienced artists.

Commissioners heard that the theater's architectural features — from the ceiling 'sky' lighting to the Wurlitzer organ and ornate proscenium ornament — are being preserved or restored, and that the project balances historic accuracy with the operational needs of a modern performance venue. Staff did not present a final re‑opening date beyond the target of the centennial year.