Legacy at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, MA Posted: Nov 2013 Posted by: Mats Inc.

It is a rare occasion to hear a designer touting the stylish and modern aspects of entrance matting.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how good the walk-off grid really looked in the space,” stated designer Rebecca Emanuel. “Not only was it supporting a function and was pleasant looking as we had hoped and expected, it really made a bold design statement.  The cool gray and black with the strong horizontal stripe contrasted well against the warm wood tones and historic wood trim within the space.”

Designer Rebecca Emmanuel of Wilson Butler Architects selected the Legacy matting that was installed at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, Massachusetts back in the fall of 2012.

Historic Liberty Hall has served as the home of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, a small, 279-seat Theater, since 1983. Completed in 1922, the theater maintains much of its character from years past, a trait that was of the utmost importance during renovations and upgrades in 2012.

One of the most important aspects to the new theater design was the box office.  Previously in the basement of the theater and handicapped inaccessible, the box office was to be moved up to the main level into the most logical place, the front entryway.  The front vestibule would now need to do double duty, serving as both vestibule and box office, while effectively withstanding the mud, sand and snow prevalent during New England winter and spring, the theater’s busiest seasons.

Frequently working with Mats Inc., The WBA team reviewed the Mats Inc. matting line for an entrance product that could withstand heavy foot traffic and harmonize with the antique-meets-present-day design approach.  Emmanuel selected Legacy matting in contrasting black and gray to meet the project demands and to set the contemporary tone at the entrance.

Legacy was installed like a wall-to-wall carpet to fill the entire vestibule space, minimizing edges and transitions to simplify maintenance, maintain overall durability and keep the space simplistic with a touch of bold.

Be sure to visit the Legacy product page to see features, specifications, photos & technical documentation.

Categories: Architect & Designer News, Case Studies, Entrance Matting