Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre Wellesley College

Built in 1922 and designed by the Boston firm of Cram and Ferguson, Alumnae Hall is a unique example of Renaissance Revival architecture. The building is home of a large theatre (seating 1500) with proscenium stage, and ballroom and offices on the ground level.

To create a more intimate theatre appropriate for the size of audience typical for student performances, this renovation created a new “Black Box Theatre” on the ground floor of Alumnae Hall, accommodating approximately 200 people in a variety of seating arrangements.

The scope of renovations and new construction included a new handicapped entrance and ramp, lobby/foyer, theatre space with telescoping seating platforms and staging, lighting grid, sound system, separate lighting and sound control booths, dressing rooms, rehearsal room, scene shop, and related support space.

In creating the new theatre, some of the old interior detailing and fenestration that had been removed or covered in the past was uncovered and restored to its original conditions. While maintaining the spatial flexibility necessary for such performance areas, the original character of the building was restored.