Worcester Memorial Auditorium
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DBVW Architects is leading the redevelopment of the 1931 Worcester Memorial Auditorium into a modern education, arts, and entertainment facility.
The Classical Revival-style building, vacant since 1999, features a 2,000-seat auditorium, a secondary performance space, and a grand lobby. Occasional performances took place through 2016, until a pipe burst during the winter, causing significant damage to the auditorium floor and rendering the space unfit for public use.
In May 2019, the city sold the building to the Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF) for $450,000, with plans for a $94 million redevelopment.
The redevelopment plan included the preservation of the exterior facade, the Shrine of the Immortal murals, a Kimball pipe organ, and the lobby. Several new additions and functional upgrades were also being planned, including a new multi-story entrance, a service/loading addition, a new actor entrance, an entrepreneur center, an esports practice area, and a production studio.
To support the historic building redevelopment, DBVW Architects partnered with Existing Conditions to gather as-built data of the auditorium using 3D laser scanning and create a 3D BIM model, to develop detailed plans for restoration and redevelopment.
With an accurate digital record, the project team could make informed decisions, design with confidence and efficiency, reduce unforeseen challenges, and streamline the restoration process.
“I have been collaborating with Existing Conditions for over a decade now and have always found its scans to be an invaluable tool in the work that we do. Having the scan data really saves us time during the construction document process and allows us to go back to the building without setting a foot in there. The accuracy of the scan and the information that it conveys makes coordination a breeze!” – Tami Hughes, Senior Associate of DBVW Architects.
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Case Study: Worcester Memorial Auditorium
This case study explores the collaborative efforts between DBVW Architects and Existing Conditions as they strive to preserve the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, delivering a future where it thrives as a cutting-edge forum for commercial entertainment.
This architectural heritage project demands attention to detail. Existing Conditions was committed to providing a comprehensive and accurate record of the Auditorium's current as-built conditions.
Scope of Work
DBVW Architects selected Existing Conditions to 3D laser scan the 50,000-square-foot historic building.
The project required a two-fold approach, prioritizing historic preservation, plus incorporating modern adaptive reuse strategies to repurpose the building.
Phase 1: Initial 3D laser scanning focused on the exterior envelope to prevent further water infiltration and environmental damage. This included:
- High-resolution scanning of exterior elevations and roof levels
- A 3D Revit model incorporating exterior elevations, floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, interior elevations, and a roof plan
Phase 2: Expanding the scope in 2022, DBVW Architects engaged Existing Conditions to complete:
- High-resolution scanning of the attic to accommodate new loads for lighting and speakers
- Full interior scanning, covering the basement, Little Theater control room, and catwalks
- Seamless integration of new and previous scan data into an updated point cloud for in-house modeling
This comprehensive dataset ensured DBVW Architects had precise, as-built documentation to guide their restoration strategy without the need for repeated site visits.
Challenges
The Worcester Memorial Auditorium posed challenges for 3D laser scanning due to its complex design, outdated layout requiring ADA compliance, structural deterioration, safety concerns, and the need to preserve its century-old murals.
- Historic Complexity: The Auditorium’s intricate design, with upper floors and mechanical areas, narrow catwalks, multi-level spaces, and limited lighting, posed scanning challenges.
- ADA Compliance: As the building was designed in an era with different spatial standards, featuring a complex layout of multiple levels and intricate structural elements, adapting it to modern accessibility requirements required precise 3D data.
- Structural Deterioration: Years of neglect required a highly detailed as-built record to guide restoration efforts accurately. The building's age also raised significant safety concerns.
- Historic Artwork: The auditorium’s main lobby featured original, nearly century-old murals that must be safeguarded and remain untouched during data capture.
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Solutions
By leveraging cutting-edge reality capture technology, Existing Conditions provided a single source of truth for all stakeholders, eliminating guesswork and reducing project risks.
- Building Exterior and Façade 3D Laser Scanning: Existing Conditions captured accurate details of the auditorium’s exterior, documenting its geometry, and measurements of the building’s structure, including façade details, walls, windows, doors, rooflines, and other architectural features.
- Interior 3D Laser Scanning: Captured every interior detail with construction-grade accuracy, ensuring that no architectural, structural and MEP element was overlooked. Scanning was conducted at a safe distance from the auditorium’s artwork, preventing any risk of disturbance.
- Phased Documentation Approach: Prioritizing the building exterior first mitigated risks of further environmental damage. Then the construction details of the building's interior spaces were captured, including finishes, fixtures, and equipment.
- Planned 3D Laser Scanning Route: The Existing Conditions team carefully planned the scanning route to maximize efficiency and accuracy. They ensured enough overlap in scan data for smooth registration, conducted extra scans in complex areas, and adjusted the scanning pace to capture fine details. Thorough documentation and clear notes helped communicate site conditions to the processing team, ensuring a smooth workflow and reducing errors in post-processing.
- Seamless Data Integration: Existing Conditions delivered a unified point cloud dataset, enabling DBVW Architects to integrate new scans with their existing models effortlessly.
- Design Precision: 3D laser scanning provided accurate data that helped plan accessibility upgrades and structural reinforcements by capturing the building’s dimensions and layout, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring modifications fit seamlessly with the existing structure.
- Preservation Accuracy: The point cloud data captured during scanning accurately documented the Worcester Memorial Auditorium’s architectural features, preserving its historical integrity and allowing the restoration team to reference these details during renovation, while ensuring compliance with preservation standards.
This partnership has proven valuable in DBVW Architects’ document preparation processes, streamlining their work and saving them time. With access to accurate laser scan data, the team at DBVW Architects has minimized the need for revisiting sites to capture missed dimensions, enhancing the efficiency of their operations.
Tami Hughes, Senior Associate at DBVW Architects, highlighted the efficiency gains from Existing Conditions’ work:
“Having the scan data really saves us time during the construction documentation process and allows us to go back to the building without setting a foot in there. The accuracy of the scan and the information that it conveys makes coordination a breeze!”
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Video: Worcester Memorial Auditorium
Watch the exclusive interview with Tami Hughes, Senior Associate at DBVW Architects – to gain valuable insights into the restoration of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium.
How This Project Was Unique
The restoration and revitalization of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium posed architectural and technical challenges due to its large-scale structure, "The Little Theater," and extensive basement, requiring extensive 3D laser scanning for comprehensive documentation of its intricate details.
The sheer volume of scan data, including colorized point clouds for historical preservation, required efficient 3D laser scan data management and processing.
Originally designed for optimal acoustics, the auditorium’s spatial configuration added further complexity to the documentation process.
Beyond preservation, the renovation project redefined the building’s function, integrating commercial entertainment uses such as interactive media and an eSports arena. This adaptive reuse approach required a balance of historical preservation with modern functionality, demanding a strategic methodology for revitalizing historic structures.
Where Does This Project Stand Now?
Currently, DBVW Architects is in the second phase of the historic application. They have been diligently collaborating with the AHF to secure approval for their designs. DBVW Architects is making significant progress towards the submission of its application.
As of January 2025, the renovation of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium remains ongoing. The project has secured $1 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support this initiative. While significant progress has been made, the auditorium has not yet reopened to the public.
Download eBook
Dive into the visual narrative of Worcester Memorial Auditorium's ongoing transformation into a forum for commercial entertainment with our eBook – download now for a concise, graphics-rich overview. Download eBook here.
History of the Worchester Memorial Auditorium
The Worcester Memorial Auditorium, known as the Aud, is a five-story performance venue in Worcester, Massachusetts built in 1933 to honor local war veterans. Designed by Lucius W. Briggs in the Classical Revival style, the building was constructed for $2 million using Deer Island granite, Indiana limestone, and marble, highlighting exceptional craftsmanship.
Located in Lincoln Square, it features a 31,000 SF auditorium with a 107-rank Kimball pipe organ, the adjacent “Little Theater” for film screenings, and the Shrine of the Immortal, a WWI memorial hall adorned with Leon Kroll murals. Throughout the 20th century, the Aud was a key civic and cultural hub, hosting concerts, sports events, graduations, and charity functions.
About the Client DBVW Architects
DBVW Architects is a firm of 34 professionals specializing in a wide range of architectural projects, including historical preservation, affordable housing, high-end residential designs, institutional facilities, and commercial ventures. Their diverse portfolio reflects the firm's adaptability and technical expertise across various sectors.
Tami Hughes, Senior Associate at DBVW Architects, brings over 20 years of architectural experience and advanced proficiency in Revit. In her role, she manages project teams and oversees consultant coordination while also serving as the firm’s Revit Manager. Her leadership and technical capabilities consistently exceed expectations.
DBVW Architects is recognized for its client-focused approach, emphasizing clear communication, hands-on involvement, and creative problem-solving. Whether surveying from scaffolding or measuring in confined spaces, the firm actively engages with every project detail to provide practical solutions and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Existing Conditions 3D Laser Scanning Services
Existing Conditions has been engaged as a key collaborator with architects specializing in the restoration and preservation of some of the most historically significant buildings in the United States. We deliver accurate as-built documentation of theatres and arenas, and more for clients to make intelligent decisions, mitigate risk, and avoid costly mistakes.
Over the past 27 years, Existing Conditions has measured, documented, and modeled over 10,000 buildings across the United States, establishing ourselves as an industry leader in 3D laser scanning.
Architects trust us to deliver digital representations of the as-built environment with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. Our dedicated Project Managers provide fast and accurate 3D laser scanning services and drone imagery services, and expert CAD and BIM technicians create custom, detailed deliverables, including point clouds, 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D mesh models, TruViews, and 3D virtual tours.
Our greatest reward remains delivering superior-quality scan-to-BIM work and knowing we played a vital role in our clients’ historical architecture and preservation projects.
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