The Howard Theatre
2012 I Completed
LOCATION
Washington, D.C.
Discipline
SECTOR
Project Type


















Project Details
The Howard Theatre, a cultural icon in Washington, DC, opened in 1910 and became a cornerstone for African American artists during segregation. Legends like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, and The Supremes graced its stage, shaping genres like jazz, R&B, and soul.
After years of closure, the theater underwent a $29 million renovation completed in 2012. The restoration, funded by an $8 million grant and $4 million in Great Streets Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, preserved its Beaux Arts, Italian Renaissance, and neoclassical Greek exterior while modernizing the interior. The renovation transformed the space into a cabaret-style venue, retaining historical elements like columns and balconies while adding a dome ceiling, seating for 1,100, and state-of-the-art acoustics.
Led by Paola Moya during her period at Marshall Moya Design and partnered with Martinez and Johnson Architecture as the Architect of Record, the project earned awards such as the 2012 AIA | DC Award for Excellence in Historic Resources. This renovation honors the Howard Theatre’s legacy, ensuring it remains a vibrant part of Washington, DC’s cultural landscape.
Designed under Paola Moya’s leadership as CEO of Marshall Moya Design
Facts & Figures
Client
Ellis Development
Size
34,000 SF
Status
Completed
Completion Year
2012
project cost
$29M
accreditations
LEED Gold
Delivery Method
Design–Bid–Build
Construction type
Historic Renovation
Awards
Collaborators
general CONTRACTOR
Whiting-Turner
ARCHITECT OF RECORD
Martinez+Johnson Architecture
MEP
Metropolitan Engineering/
Shapiro-O’Brien
Theater Consultant
Schuler Shook