Bryn Mawr Film Institute

The Bryn Mawr Film Institute purchased the theater formerly known as The Seville, designed by architect William Harold Lee in 1926. After years of use and renovations, the theater lost its Roaring Twenties splendor. The phased renovation project began in 2004, following a feasibility study to convert the historic building into a film theater and education center. The restoration anticipated the theater’s return to its origins, while accommodating modern technological and spatial needs.

Phase 1 included renovations to the main lobby and a new marquee that resonated with the original façade of the building. A 700-sf retail space adjacent to the film institute was converted into a coffee shop.

Phase 2 involved restoration of the grand entrance arcade. Historic finishes were repaired or recreated including the original skylight over the arcade. Design of a multimedia classroom and offices in the previously unoccupied second floor expanded the Institute’s usable space.

Phase 3 saw an addition housing two new theaters with raked, stadium-style seating. Renovations were made to the two existing theaters, a new lobby was created, and all technology was modernized.