Located in the vicinity of San Diego's Gaslamp District, the Balboa Theatre, originally built in 1924, was the city's first big downtown theatre built to showcase motion pictures. The existing five-story structure with basement and 1,350-seat Audience Chamber has been updated to today's building standards while paying particular attention to preserving the historic fabric of the original theatre. State-of-the-art audio/visual, stage rigging, theatre lighting and hoisting systems has been installed along with new building mechanical systems and ADA compliant restrooms. New theatre seating that replicates the original seating has also been installed at raised tiers to allow for better viewing angles. To meet the historic preservation standards set for the Balboa Theatre, the exterior and interior ornamental plaster and existing, historically significant, windows, doors and ornamental metal railings have all been restored. A pair of live waterfalls built into the ornamental plaster walls within the Audience Chamber was reconditioned to working order. The historic Balboa Theatre has reopened as a performing arts venue designed to house diverse programs of local, national and international performances as well as community, corporate and convention gatherings.
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