ELS was part of the design team for the 13-month renovation of the historic Golden Gate Theatre. We reimagined the theater, which opened in 1922, for contemporary audiences while restoring the splendor of the original structure. Designed by G. Albert Lansburgh as a vaudeville house, the Golden Gate Theatre is a culturally significant building and a major contributor to the Market Street Theatre and Loft District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Renovation to the theater included custom-designed LED light fixtures and new burgundy stage draperies. A new red-and-gold carpet was based on an archival pattern and incorporated design elements found in the theater. The use of a lighter and brighter color palette refreshed and animated the space while providing theatergoers with an elegant and timeless experience. Further updates included expanded and accessible restrooms (as well as the addition of all-gender facilities) and mechanical and electrical systems. Enhancing comfort, access and safety, these behind-the-scenes improvements created a more welcoming experience for the audience while combining the aesthetic of the original building with 21st-century needs.