Craftsmanship: Ornamental Plaster Reconstruction
Originally designed by renowned architect Thomas W. Lamb as a movie palace, the Midland Theatre’s “deluxe” style incorporates French Baroque / Rococo interiors. The ornate interior incorporates over 6-million square inches of gold leaf and ornamental plaster.
Renovated to meet “The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation”, the renovation of the Midland Theatre allowed the owners to capture State of Missouri and Federal Historic Tax Credits and improve the theatre for its continued role as the premier live performance entertainment venue in Kansas City. This required that the interior, damaged in a several places from previous renovations, years of use, and various water leaks, be restored to its original splendor.
Craftsmen took molds from the existing ornamental plaster trim, created new trim pieces on site, and painstakingly reconstructed areas to exactly duplicate the original. The artisans then painted the trim with the same care and detail found in the original work. The result is a seamless profusion of pattern and color.
