From Bank to Black Box Theatre: Gloucester Township’s Community Center Upgrade
Photo credit: Gloucester Township
A Historic Space Revitalized for the Arts
In the heart of downtown Blackwood’s Arts District, Gloucester Township’s now named Harmony Hall has been reborn as a dynamic community arts venue. What was once the First National Bank of Blackwood, built in 1911, has been transformed into a Black Box Theatre and multi-use cultural space designed to host everything from live music and theatre to local art exhibitions and civic gatherings.
The Township’s vision was to preserve the architectural integrity of this historic landmark while creating a technically advanced and flexible performance environment that could serve as a cornerstone for the area’s cultural revitalization.
Working in Harmony with History and Trades
Starlite’s task was to execute the integration of a compact and unconventional space into a fully functional, modern performance space while navigating the challenges of a multi-trade construction site in a confined historic building.
“The biggest hurdle,” recalls Project Manager Ben Tilley, “was coordination. Multiple trades were working in tight quarters, and even small deviations — like HVAC or sprinkler placement — had a domino effect on ceiling heights, rigging points, and curtain track alignments. Constant communication with the architect, consultant, and other trades was critical.”
Through weekly coordination meetings, meticulous field adjustments, and adaptive problem-solving, Starlite’s integration team maintained both schedule and quality while ensuring the end result matched the design intent.
Technical Integration: Seamless Control, Simple Operation
The theatre’s technical backbone features a complete suite of AV, lighting, rigging, and networking systems, all designed for ease of use and flexibility which are hallmarks of Starlite’s integration philosophy.
Key systems and technologies include:
Lighting & Control:
ETC theatrical lighting fixtures, Chauvet Professional moving lights, ETC control board paired with Interactive Technologies’ CueStation for intuitive architectural controls operation.
AV & Control:
Crestron control and touch panels, Visionary AvoIP, and conncetions to Q-SYS DSP, programmed for simple, one-touch operation.
Audio Systems:
Allen & Heath mixing, QSC loudspeakers, Q-SYS processing, LEA Professional amplification, Green Go wireless production intercom, and Shure microphones for high-quality, reliable sound reinforcement.
Projection & Presentation:
Epson projection and Da-Lite screen for versatile performance and presentation use.
Rigging & Drapery:
Pipe grid, ADC and Rose Brand components, including custom curtain track switchers that allow the space to be enclosed or opened in seconds.
Network:
Netgear switches configured to support multiple VLANs, enabling any device — lighting console, audio console, or video encoder — to plug in anywhere and automatically discover its correct network path.
Platforms and Seating:
Spec Seats for portable seating and storage carts, Sightline for portable platforms, railings, carts, and accessories.
Programming for the People
For Starlite, success isn’t just about integrating cutting-edge equipment — it’s about creating systems that feel effortless for the end user. Every touch panel and network connection was programmed to simplify complex operations, giving staff and visiting artists intuitive control over sound, lighting, and visuals.
Now, with just a few taps on a Crestron touch panel, users can:
- Power the entire system on or off
- Adjust house light color and intensity
- Switch between event modes (ex: theatre, lecture, live music)
- Reconfigure AV routing instantly
The result is a future-ready, user-friendly venue that empowers the community to host performances and events without needing specialized technical expertise.
Building for the Future
Sustainability and scalability were key considerations on this project..
- All lighting fixtures are LED, reducing energy costs and heat output.
- Additional CAT6 runs were installed at strategic points to provide flexibility for future expansions.
- System components were mounted with serviceability in mind, ensuring easy access for maintenance or upgrades.
Community Impact and Reception
The newly completed Black Box Theatre has already become a vital heartbeat of the Gloucester Township arts community, offering a modern, flexible, and welcoming venue for performance and gathering.
The transformation is striking: what was once a bank lobby is now a fully functional performance venue where every light, sound, and visual element works in harmony allowing the community to have a shared space of creativity.
Mainstage Center for the Arts, who now shares the space, provides a creative, vibrant, and nurturing environment for youth and adults. Using the performing arts as a catalyst for individual expression and growth, Mainstage enriches the quality of life for its South Jersey community.
“It has been such a meaningful and rewarding experience watching Harmony Hall come to life. I feel fortunate to have witnessed such a wide range of events there in the brief time that it’s been open. From a high energy, magical Holiday concert, to a township government reorganization meeting, to 3 different theatrical productions in the span of 3 weeks, watching the space transform for the event, and to hold people from various walks of life in the South Jersey community has been remarkable.”
In Reflection
For Starlite’s Systems Integration department, projects like Gloucester Township’s Black Box Theatre are rewarding as well as great examples of our integration and construction skillsets. They blend our technical precision and creative problem-solving with our deep respect for how creative spaces serve communities.
Working side-by-side with other construction trades, Starlite delivered clean integration and programming for a space that is both technically sophisticated and refreshingly simple to operate. This ensures that theatre, live music, and community events can now take center stage with ease.
Project Snapshot
| Location | Harmony Hall Gloucester Township Community Center, Gloucester Township, NJ |
| Type | Black Box Theatre / Community Arts Space |
| Completed | 2025 |
|
Architect
Theatre Consultant |
McKernan Architects
|
| Systems Installed | Lighting, Audio, Video, Control, Rigging, Networking, Seating and Platforms |
| Key Brands | ETC, Crestron, Q-SYS, Interactive Technologies, Allen & Heath, Shure, QSC, Epson, Netgear, Spec Seats, Sightline |
| Starlite’s Role | Systems Integration, Installation, Programming, Commissioning |