How a lavish 1930s theater was reborn as an acoustical paradise

Movie theaters in the U.S. have been struggling for decades. Once lavish palaces from the early 1900s, many theaters today have been turned into nightclubs, churches, basketball courts — and now, symphony halls. In downtown Milwaukee, the Warner Grand Theater has been transformed into an acoustical paradise for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The four-year-long renovation, courtesy of local architecture firm Kahler Slater, introduced a slew of hidden acoustical features that make the space sound as good as it looks. It also involved moving a 625-ton, 85-foot-tall historic wall into the street to make room for a larger stage. Read my story here. — Elissaveta M. Brandon   How a lavish 1930s theater was reborn as an acoustical paradise The Warner Grant Theater has been transformed into a contemporary performance hall replete with hidden acoustical features.   READ MORE   40% of freelance designers turned down work last year. Here’s why Designers won’t work for obtuse or immoral clients anymore. Here are the 8 social issues most important to them.   READ MORE   Low-carbon materials are getting a huge boost in this federal $3.4 billion plan The Biden administration is modernizing U.S. border crossings, and sustainable building materials are a requirement—which could help spur their production more broadly.   READ MORE   Everything you know about innovation is wrong When it comes to redesigning how government functions, most of the common assumptions about innovation don’t hold up.   READ MORE

Mapping the 1,000+ streets named after Martin Luther King, Jr. From Haiti to Germany, King inspired activism around the world.   READ MORE       Enter the 2022 Innovation by Design Awards The 2022 Innovation by Design Awards honor the designers and businesses solving the most crucial problems of today and anticipating the pressing issues of tomorrow. The competition, now in its 11th year, features a range of blue-chip companies, emerging startups, and hungry young talents. It is one of the most sought-after design awards in the industry. There are 46 categories that capture every facet of design. Entries are judged on the key ingredients of innovation: functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural impact, and business impact. APPLY NOW

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