The Cabot

Beverly, Massachusetts

The Cabot Theater, a historic cinema and theater, has been a focal point of downtown Beverly welcoming moviegoers throughout the last century. The theater was the legacy of the visionary showmanship and architectural passion of the Ware Brothers. Of the 20,000 theaters built in the 1920s, only 250 still exist. At risk of falling to ruin, the historic North Shore gem was rescued by community activists and converted to a live-performance venue. Through careful restoration and preservation tactics, SV Design revitalized the theater’s glory while adding thoughtful architectural and interior design updates for modern-day technologies and functions. With the addition of a lively new bar and performance space, The Cabot is once again a vibrant venue, attracting new visitors from near and far to the heart of Beverly.

In addition to the restoration of the historic marquee and replacement of the auditorium seats, the existing 1920 timber roof trusses were reinforced with tensioned steel cables. Flexible, open floor space was created to accommodate a broader range of performances and events, and a new energy-efficient heating and cooling system was added throughout the building, theater, offices, and storefronts.

The Cabot’s most recent project was a renovation and restoration to the lobby. The historic architectural details of the rose window over the marquee and the grand arched ceilings, previously hidden by a dropped ceiling, was restored and exposed. The flow of the lobby was redesigned to allow for a new box office and concession stand, double doors that divided the lobby for years were removed, and an elevator was added to increase accessibility to the balcony and second floor. The revitalization of the lobby aligns with The Cabot’s art deco design.