The Building

The “Big Blue Box”

After 37 years spent sharing space in St. Patrick’s Church ballroom on Bridge Street, a long-held dream to have our own permanent home finally came true. In the Spring of 2015, we moved into our $7.3M, state-of-the-art building, which was designed by Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects of Cleveland.

Near West Theatre’s “Big Blue Box” on Detroit Ave represents the culmination of years of hard work, investment, and an unwavering commitment to a vision. Located within a flourishing arts district, this space has allowed NWT to expand the reach and impact of our mission through increased programming (both on-stage and off-) for our community members of all ages.

Our theater incorporates:

25,550 square feet of space for rehearsals, performance space, or rentals
Two transformable theatre spaces: a 275-seat main stage auditorium, and an intimate 100-seat black box
Removable riser seating in both theatres
Stages that can be transformed into proscenium, in the round, and environmental designs in both theatres
A café
Temperature-controls specific to floor and room
Full pipe grid allowing for flexibility in rigging, light plots, and sound design in both theatres
A mainstage with ample fly space (49’ 11” high) and wings
A public plaza to connect NWT’s front entrance to Detroit Avenue
Full ADA compliance and navigation for wheelchairs (for both audiences and cast members)
A super-energy efficient design with Passivhaus design elements, including solar panels and extra thick walls for insulation
LEED-certified design