The New
American
Theatre

A new cultural anchor for downtown Pittston—connecting performance, public life, and urban renewal.

Status: Bidding
Expected completion: November 2028
Client: Pittston Redevelopment Authority

The New American Theatre at Market and Main, downtown Pittston

01 / Market + Main

50,000Square Feet

630Theatre Seats

20Residential Units

4,500SF / RDA Office

1993Former Theatre Demolished

2028Anticipated Completion

01 / Overview

An architecture of performance, place, and possibility.

The New American Theatre reintroduces performing arts to the heart of downtown Pittston, Pennsylvania, nearly three decades after the original American Theater was demolished in 1993. Commissioned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittston, the project is envisioned as a catalytic mixed-use cultural destination supporting ongoing downtown revitalization while honoring the civic and artistic legacy of its former theater.

The project combines a 630-seat performing arts theatre with retail, commercial office, residential units, Redevelopment Authority offices, and an active public realm. Located at Market & Main, the building is designed as both a cultural anchor and an urban connector, extending activity into the surrounding streetscape.

The New American Theatre public lobby with mass-timber slatted ceiling, white terrazzo floor and gallery — 01A / Public Lobby — Mass Timber + Gallery

02 / THEATRE

Where the city
meets the stage.

From the intimacy of the performance hall to the shared life of its public spaces, the theatre is designed as a new destination for Pittston.

02A / Architecture in MotionFilm / OOMBRA ArchitectsWatch on YouTube ↗

03 / MATERIAL + DETAIL

A material that
changes with time.

The architecture pairs warm timber and wood interiors with an exterior of weathering steel. As the cladding patinates, it shifts through tones of rust, blue, red, and black—an evolving material expression rooted in the region’s industrial identity.

03A / Building Section

Theatre / longitudinal elevational section

04 / PUBLIC REALM

Beyond
performance.

The double-height lobby operates as an art gallery. Sculpture is intended to extend into the future Phase 2 public park, connecting art, landscape, theatre and civic life.

New American Theatre / illuminated night signage

Public lobby / material and gallery atmosphere

05 / MIXED USE

A civic building
in many parts.

Public performance spaces are integrated with workplace, residential and street-level uses to create activity throughout the day.

05A / Redevelopment Authority / Workplace

Redevelopment Authority office / view 01

Redevelopment Authority office / view 02

05B / Residential

06 / Design Process

Ideas tested
at model scale.

Physical concept models and architectural sketches make the relationships between the theatre, adjacent uses, and the city visible early in the design process.

06A / Design Process