TUPPER LAKE — Tupper Arts recently announced it has officially launched the rehabilitation of the Adirondack State Theater, a long-awaited project that will preserve one of the community’s most beloved landmarks and transform it into a year-round destination for movies, live performances and cultural programming.

The theater, located at 100 Park St., has stood at the heart of downtown Tupper Lake for over a century. With its recent acquisition by Tupper Arts, plans are now underway to restore and modernize the facility while honoring its historic character, according to a press release.

The Adirondack State Theater will remain a working movie theater while also becoming a hub for live performances, events and arts education.

The design team for the project includes Andrew Chary Architect, PLLC as the lead architect; GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying, DPC providing structural and civil engineering; and Rae Butler of Building Energy Solutions providing mechanical and electrical engineering.

“Every historic rehabilitation is a balance of preservation and progress,” Partner and Managing Engineer at GYMO Matthew Cervini said in the release. “We’re working closely with Tupper Arts and Andrew Chary Architect to protect and strengthen the theater’s structure, modernize its systems and respect its historic charm. This collaboration is a model for how technical planning and community vision can come together.”

Renovations include expanding the stage in the main theater to accommodate live performances, replacing the leaking roof, installing new lighting and an HVAC system, updating spaces to be more accessible, replacing the marquee and other facility enhancements. Funding is supported in part by New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which was awarded to Tupper Lake in 2021.

“Tupper Arts is delighted to be working with GYMO as the engineering firm hired to complete the design phase of the Adirondack State Theater,” Board Chair of Tupper Arts Susan Delehanty said in the press release. “This Downtown Revitalization Initiative project, funded by the state of New York and approved by Gov, Hochul, will be a boost to the local economy of Tupper Lake, add to our quality of life and significantly improve the streetscape of our business district.”

The rehabilitation will occur in phases, beginning with structural and systems upgrades before moving into design elements that enhance performance space and visitor experience.

Once complete, the Adirondack State Theater will serve as a cornerstone of Tupper Lake’s arts, culture and economic revitalization, according to the release.

“The Adirondack State Theater is a touchstone centerpiece of not only Tupper Lake, but of the Adirondack Park itself,” Chary said in a press release. “Its enhancement will infuse performing arts, as well as broad appeal film offerings, into the daily lives of residents, as well as tourists.

“While reigniting the architectural presence of the noble 1914 façade that graced Park Street, the lobby, concessions area, restrooms and theater tech will be replaced and upgraded.”