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:

Projection & Presentation:

Epson projection and Da-Lite screen for versatile performance and presentation use.

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.

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