CAW Architects, a firm recognized for its sensitive stewardship of Northern California’s architectural heritage, announced the completion of three performance venues, bridging the gap between historic preservation and modern technical innovation. From the $41 million restoration of San Francisco’s legendary Castro Theatre to the topography-driven “resculpting” of UC Berkeley’s Hearst Greek Theatre to the ground-up industrial craftsmanship of Sacramento’s Channel 24, CAW’s latest work ensures the region’s most beloved gathering places remain vibrant, inclusive and future-ready.

Castro Theatre © Bruce Damonte

Castro Theatre
In collaboration with preservation architects Page & Turnbull, and theater consultants Shalleck Collaborative, CAW led the rehabilitation of the iconic Castro Theatre, one of San Francisco’s most cherished landmarks and a long-standing sanctuary for LGBTQIA+ culture. Originally constructed in 1922 by Timothy Pflueger, the movie palace is celebrated for its lavish interior, blending Spanish, Asian, Italian and Art Deco influences. Partnering with Another Planet Entertainment, the design team undertook a transformative renovation balancing rigorous historic preservation with the evolving demands of contemporary performance.

Central to the project’s success is a first-of-its-kind bespoke, movable orchestra floor system that allows the venue to transition seamlessly between a classic raked seating configuration for film and a flat floor for standing-room live music performances.

“The primary challenge was to allow the building to honor its role as a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ culture and classic cinema, while adapting it to meet the demands of live performances,” said Christopher Wasney, principal, CAW. “The bespoke movable floor system creates the classic raked seated orchestra, which can adapt quickly for a standing room live music event.”

The rehabilitation celebrates the theater’s artistry through the revitalization of the original painted ceiling and sgraffito murals, meticulously conserved by EverGreene Architectural Arts. Modern enhancements, including the world’s largest digital organ and state-of-the-art theatrical systems, were sensitively integrated alongside fully ADA-accessible seating and stage facilities. This commitment to inclusivity was reinforced by BuildIT, the world’s first LGBTQIA+ construction advocacy organization.

Channel 24 © Kat Alves

Channel 24
In Sacramento, CAW collaborated with Ellis Architects to debut Channel 24, a newly constructed live entertainment venue designed for 2,200 patrons. The project fulfills a vision of bringing a state-of-the-art mid-sized music venue to a region long underserved by performance spaces of this scale. The design draws inspiration from the industrial character of the surrounding neighborhood, expressed through a raw material palette of exposed concrete, metal paneling and visible structure.

Inside the nearly column-free hall, 100-foot-long steel roof trusses and steeply raked side balconies cantilever 35 feet into the space, bringing patrons closer to the stage while providing exceptional sightlines from every angle. Engineering solutions play a critical role in both performance and comfort; balconies are equipped with tuned-mass dampers to counteract audience-induced vibrations, while a 9-inch concrete roof deck provides robust acoustic containment. This innovative approach earned the project the 2025 Structural Engineers Association Award for Excellence, establishing Channel 24 as a cultural landmark that energizes Sacramento’s evolving urban core.

Hearst Greek Theatre © Bernardo Grijalva

Hearst Greek Theatre
At UC Berkeley, CAW completed its third major project for Hearst Greek Theatre, a National Historic Landmark and perennial favorite among the country’s greatest amphitheaters. The project involved re-sculpting the entire eastern portion of the site, transforming a formerly steep and uncomfortable lawn into a terraced, accessible seating area accommodating approximately 3,000 guests. By reusing excavated earth to limit off-haul, the team created a new pedestrian plaza and promenade at the top of the bowl.

A key challenge was integrating a required fire access lane for a neighboring dormitory, which the architects successfully disguised as a vibrant pedestrian promenade using permeable pavers. To respect the 1903 original amphitheater, CAW utilized a spare, bulletproof palette of concrete, natural turf and Bega site lighting. The result is a venue that feels both familiar and fundamentally improved.