Plath & Company General Contractors Completes
$1 Million Remodeling of Historic Sequoia Theatre

1929 Landmark Upgraded for 1999 Mill Valley Film Festival


SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 28, 1999) Plath & Company General Contractors of San Francisco, noted for its restoration of historic buildings and upscale residences, announced the completion of the $1-million remodeling of downtown Mill Valleyís historic Sequoia Theatre, home to the Mill Valley Film Festival. The 650-seat twin theater is owned by Pacific Theatres Corporation of Los Angeles. Architect for the project is Lerner + Associates Architects of San Francisco, which specializes in historic preservation and accessibility projects.

The 70-year-old theater, which originally opened its doors in February 1929, hosted the 22nd Annual Mill Valley Film Festival October 7 through 17 after completion of the remodeling. Renovations to the theater include a new marquee and digital sound systems, new auditorium seating, improvements to the lobby and box office, and the addition of a wheelchair lift and other ADA amenities. New colors were selected for the exterior of the theater, which was repainted.

"The Sequoia Theatre has played an important role in the cultural and artistic life of Marin County," said Steve Plath, President of Plath Construction Company. "Renovation of historic buildings such as this one offers unique challenges that call for a special set of skills and sensitivity to historic architecture. We are proud to have participated in the theaterís latest incarnation."

During the remodeling the existing marquee on the front of the building, which had replaced the 1929 original, was removed and a new 22-foot marquee consistent with the historic design was installed. It features column details on either end as well as a medallion in the center.

Improvements within the lobby include the relocation of the box office; the installation of a "gourmet" snack bar; restoration of many of the original architectural finishes, including the barrel vault ceilings, plaster moldings, and grilled lighting; and improved bathroom access for people with disabilities. Other accessibility upgrades include a wheelchair lift, improved egress and ingress, two new bathrooms, and accessible seating.

In the auditoriums, there are new high-back seats with cupholders and retractable armrests, new draperies, and new Dolby and DTS digital sound systems.

Reid Brothers of San Francisco designed the 1929 building in the classic style as a theater palace on a small scale. The original construction cost was $100,000 plus $25,000 for the furnishings. The Sequoia was originally built by Blumenfeld Theaters, Inc. An official capacity crowd of 1200 attended the opening on Feb. 21, 1929. The opening night feature was "The Kidís Clever," accompanied by a newsreel.

A Mill Valley schoolboy named Ralph Kliewe, who won a contest to name the theater for a historic or other feature typical of Marin County, gave the theater the title "Sequoia." His prize was a year of free movie-watching at the theater. In its first several decades, the theater had three changes a week, and in addition to movies, travelogues, and cartoons, hosted the Marin Light Opera Company, live shows, beauty contests, and amateur theatricals.

Plath & Company General Contractors is also rehabilitating the Gas Light Building in San Franciscoís Marina district. In addition to building custom luxury homes and remodeling commercial buildings, Plath restores vintage residences, including those by Bernard Maybeck, Albert Farr, Newsom and Newsom, and Charles Whittelsey. Steve Plath is a Member of the Board of San Francisco's Architectural Heritage.


SEQUOIA THEATRE DESIGN TEAM

Owner: Pacific Theatres Corporation, Los Angeles
Rob McCutcheon, Project Manager

Architect: Lerner + Associates, Architects, San Francisco
Arnie Lerner, AIA, Project Architect

Associate Architect: Richard Reaume

General Contractor: Plath & Company, Inc. General Contractors, San Francisco
Steve Plath, Managing Principal
Peter Daly, Project Manager
Steve Chiles, Superintendent

Structural Engineer: Joshua B. Kardon + Co., Structural Engineers, Berkeley

Mechanical Engineer: William Mah, Mechanical Engineers, San Francisco

Acoustical Engineer: Charles M. Salter Associates, San Francisco

Concessions Consultant: Proctor Companies, Littleton, Colorado

Electrical Engineer: Peter O. Lapid, Inc., San Francisco

Lighting Designer: Prism Lighting, Oakland