Morabito Consultants provided structural engineering services for the adaptive reuse and transformation of an existing 34,000-square-foot theater into Cinépolis Luxury Cinema at Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The project converted an older cinema structure into a modern luxury movie-going venue with upgraded seating, hospitality features, and contemporary theater amenities.
Structural engineering services began with a feasibility study that evaluated the existing 1990s-era building and identified which portions of the original structure could be reused. Select elements, including column footings and portions of the slab-on-grade, were retained where feasible to improve cost efficiency while supporting the new theater layout.
Significant structural modifications were required to accommodate luxury, tiered seating and revised theater clearances. Large portions of the roof were raised, existing masonry bearing walls were removed or modified, and the structural systems were redesigned to comply with current building code and seismic requirements. Morabito Consultants also implemented lightweight panel systems for new stadium seating in place of traditional cast-in-place concrete, reducing loads on the existing structure while enabling a successful high-end cinema conversion.