Brick-faced precast concrete panels proved to be the most efficient and cost-effective method to rehabilitate the 80-year-old Allen Theater in Cleveland, Ohio. The rehabilitation program included renovating the existing stagehouse public areas to their former glory while adding new performance areas to accommodate large-scale, high tech, Broadway-style productions. A total of 218 architectural precast panels, comprising 30,400 sq ft (2830 m2) of surface area, were used on this project. The 12 in. (305 mm) thick panels are composed of 6 in. (152 mm) structural concrete, 2 in. (51 mm) rigid insulation, and 4 in. (102 mm) architectural concrete embedded with face brick. This article presents the conceptual aspects of the renovation program, design features of the architectural precast panels, erection highlights, and economic considerations of the project.
