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RBTL launches $6.2M second phase of West Herr PAC restoration
PROJECT RESTOURATION focuses on preserving the historic character of the facility, which is home to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre (File photo rendering provided by RBTL)
PROJECT RESTOURATION focuses on preserving the historic character of the facility, which is home to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre (File photo rendering provided by RBTL)
RBTL launches $6.2M second phase of West Herr PAC restoration
Listen to this articleThe Rochester Broadway Theatre League (RBTL) has launched the second phase of its ambitious PROJECT RESTOURATION, a $65 million effort to transform the historic West Herr Performing Arts Center into a premier arts, entertainment and cultural destination.
Phase Two carries a $6.2 million price tag and focuses on enhancing the guest experience while modernizing facilities to better support touring productions and expand the venue’s economic impact on the Rochester region.
The project includes restoring and expanding the Rothschild Lounge to its original late-1920s footprint, complete with the return of a grand fireplace and preservation of historic architectural elements where possible. The larger space will accommodate more guests and allow the lounge to host a wider variety of events beyond Broadway performances.
RBTL also plans to renovate backstage artist and crew areas across two floors of the Auditorium Theatre, marking the first major upgrade to those spaces. The improvements are designed to meet the modern requirements of touring productions and enhance Rochester’s appeal as a stop for major shows, RBTL leaders said.
Construction on the Rothschild Lounge and first-floor dressing rooms is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 M&T Bank Broadway Season in October, with work on the second-floor dressing areas slated for completion in 2027.
Since PROJECT RESTOURATION began in 2023, more than $20 million has been committed to the initiative from public and private sources. RBTL said the project has generated more than 65,000 labor hours through construction partners Pike Construction Services and LaBella Associates, while supporting local suppliers and contractors.
RBTL CEO and Board Chair Arnie Rothschild said the venue’s impact extends far beyond the stage.
“The West Herr Performing Arts Center is an economic driver that is critical to our growth and prosperity as a community,” he said.
Future restoration plans include work on the historic Cathedral Hall, a former Masonic lodge room that could accommodate additional performances and entertainment offerings. A timeline for that phase has not yet been announced.
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