Diller Scofidio + Renfro has shared new project details and a flythrough animation for their planned revitalization of the 63-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas.

The project’s scope revolves around a “faithful reinterpretation of Wright’s original design intent” that calls for the removal of several decades worth of accumulated additions; creation of a new “theater arts complex” outside that includes a new performance venue, two pavilions, and a 100-seat black box theater; demolition of the existing Heldt Building; and further development of the William B. Dean Park with an emphasis on “stitching” the site with the popular nearby Katy Trail and Turtle Creek attractions.

According to a press release, the final plans will be submitted to the city no later than December 31st of this year. Chicago-based preservation specialists Harboe Architects is also involved with the planning team, helping to restore the sometimes neglected facility that is the only existing of Wright's theater designs left in the country. The building's original seating level, roof terrace, and lobby area will also be returned to form. No cost estimates for the project have been made available publicly. 

“Our hope is that this park will become a new destination in the city of Dallas, open to all and an amenity for people on the Katy Trail,” Renfro told the Dallas-Morning News of the firm’s intentions, which includes a 50% increase in public space with landscaping provided by Reed Hilderbrand.

“I suspect artists will stop cursing Frank Lloyd Wright for things that weren’t actually his fault in the first place,” the theater's Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty added. “The building as a whole will make a lot more logical sense both in its front-of-house configuration and significantly in its back-of-house configuration.”

A public-private partnership will be enacted through a planned bond measure that's set to be introduced in 2024. If approved, the theater is expected to reopen in time for the 2027–28 season. A full flythrough of the plan can be viewed below.

Video courtesy Diller Scofidio + Renfro