The Curator’s Corner
The Reinhart Auditorium Side Sections Seat Replacement Project Commences
Welcome to The Curator’s Corner. I am David Voelkel, Director of Historic Preservation and Chief Curator for The Byrd Theatre Foundation and writing to share with you some information on one of our current projects – The Reinhart Auditorium side sections seat replacement project that is currently underway!
In June 2025, The Byrd Theatre Foundation, working with general contractor Daniel & Company, commenced preparation for replacing the old theater seats in the side sections of the main auditorium to complete the work begun in 2018. Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, funding was secured to permit us to complete the project.
The project kicked off with the de-installation of the original 1928 theater seats in order to send off the original decorative cast iron end aisle standards for retrofitting by Irwin Seating Company. The current red and gold paint will also be replaced with the original 1928 polychrome paint scheme. This restoration will match the work completed in 2018 for the center section seats. The team of electricians from Harris Electric disconnected the aisle lights in the end aisle standards allowing the crew from Junk Shuttle to complete the process of carefully removing and packing the end aisle standards. Delta Graphic designers oversaw the loading out and shipping back these important elements to Irwin Seating Company as well as organizing the laser mapping for the relocation of the HVAC cast iron floor vents which had to be moved to allow for the new wider seats as well as spacing the rows to create more legroom for our patrons. The crew then removed all the existing seat backs and seat bottoms for recycling, where possible. Working ahead of them, where possible, I have personally removed, sorted, and packed the maple scrolled armrests for future restoration. As a preservation project it is important to retain as much of the surviving 1928 elements of the Theatre while making the space comfortable and pleasant for our patrons nearly a century after originally opening our doors to the Richmond community.
The deinstallation crew was able to remove all of the cast iron middle supports of the existing seats to recycle. The one free-standing seat from the rear of the auditorium was carefully removed and donated to our city history museum, The Valentine, for consideration to join the accessioned items in the General Collections. Once the old theater seats had been removed, we did a final clean-up to prepare for the next steps: patching the existing concrete and sanding for the epoxy finish, which will match the center section of the main auditorium. This drilling and patching is now underway in late June 2025.
The new theater seats are wider than the 19” wide American Seating Company seats from 1928 and are being manufactured by Irwin Seating Company of Walker, Michigan. These updated seats are designed to match the completed center section of the main auditorium and the recently completed balcony. We expect these new seats to arrive, and installation to begin in mid-August 2025. If everything remains on schedule, we anticipate the project wrapping up in early September 2025 and welcoming our patrons back to The Byrd Theatre!
The Reinhart Auditorium at the start of the seat replacement project, May 2025.
Working with the contractors to carefully wrap the 2017 Irwin seats prior to construction, June 2025.
The one free-standing theater seat offered to The Valentine, June 2025.
The Seats Removed In Preparation For Concrete Resurfacing, June 2025.
Contractors drilling concrete slab to relocate 1928 cast iron “mushroom caps” for HVAC system, June 2025.
About The Byrd Theatre Foundation
The Byrd Theatre Foundation owns and operates The Byrd Theatre. The Foundation was established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with the mission to preserve the landmark Byrd Theatre while providing unique experiences for all.
David B. Voelkel
Director of Historic Preservation and Chief Curator
