Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater

Creative and adaptive reuse of the historic Mercantile Trust and Deposit Co. building in downtown Baltimore transformed the 19th-century structure into a popular venue for the performing arts. Mueller designed upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the new 260-seat Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater, which is designed as a theater-in-the-round.

Many of the historic details within the circa-1885 Romanesque Revival-style building were retained and restored, adding to the drama of the intimate theater setting. The removal of dropped ceilings revealed the original painted, coffered ceilings. The grand, three-story columns and vault doors remain, and a vintage teller’s window frames the box office. Mueller’s designs optimized the existing HVAC system through extensive repairs and selective replacement of equipment. Working within the confined space and around the columns, beams, ornate ceilings, and new lighting, the team configured the systems efficiently while minimizing the impact on historic elements and theater operations.