The renovation the Spokane Fox ironically came from a plan to tear it down. Major renovations were essential for re-purposing the 1931 movie palace into the new home of the Spokane Symphony. By re-configuring the existing space, the theater gained the additional dressing rooms, staging area for catering, ticket office, storage, and expanded lobby that it needed. At the cost of $31M, the transformed theater now contributes $16M annually to the region. 

One of the Theater’s most stunning features is its intricate art deco wall murals and ceiling, which were deteriorating from years of smoke, grime, and new layers of paint covering over the historic patterns.

The new spaces would need to be adapted if the historic theme was to be consistent throughout. To guide our historically-influenced design decisions, we contacted the studio of the original interior designer, the prolific Anthony Heinsbergen. At 80 years old, Heinsbergen’s son was able to help us re-create the original unique finishes his father developed. We reviewed and analyzed hundreds of archival photographs, then removed years of dirt and grime, and implemented the decorative scheme in the expanded spaces in a way that is consistent with the original designs.