# Garage-Converted Box Theaters Dash Marshall Completes the Transformed Detroit Public Theater By Amy Duong | Published 2023-11-07 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/detroit-public-theater References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/11/06/dash-marshall-detroit-public-theatre/) & [dashmarshall](https://dashmarshall.com/spaces/dpt)  American architecture studio [Dash Marshall](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stacks-ceramic-cookware-set-with-electric-burner) completes the Detroit Pubic Theater, which is a brick building that grows the performing arts organization's roots in the Midtown neighborhood of the city. It is part of the [adaptive reuse project](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wyatt-builds) and essentially transforms what was once a historic garage into a theater. The team creates a black box theater that is able to seat 200 people. It has a rectangular structure with [brick construction](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beam-cultural-center) that is then painted in a dusty black tone. The studio explains, "Though it's built within an old structure, a night out at the theatre should not feel like watching a play inside of a relic. Our goal was to design a space that is true to Detroit without being stale or trapped by its own history." Image Credit: Dash Marshall, Michael Vahrenwald ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 19% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Adaptive Reuse Projects:** The transformation of a historic garage into a theater demonstrates the trend of adaptive reuse projects in architecture and design. - **Black Box Theaters:** The creation of a black box theater that can seat 200 people highlights the trend of utilizing flexible performance spaces in the entertainment industry. - **Preserving Local Identity:** Designing a space that is true to Detroit's identity while avoiding stagnation showcases the trend of preserving local identity in architectural projects. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture and Design:** The adaptive reuse of a garage into a theater offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of architecture and design, encouraging the transformation of underutilized spaces. - **Entertainment:** The establishment of a black box theater with flexible seating options presents disruptive innovation opportunities within the entertainment industry, allowing for more intimate and versatile performances. - **Cultural Preservation:** The focus on designing a space that reflects Detroit's identity while embracing modernity provides disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of cultural preservation, promoting the revitalization of historic structures. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Black Box Theatre Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urmila-kanoria-black-box.md) - [Archival Performance Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/take-a-bow-centre.md) - [Industrial-Themed Dance Theaters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sadlers-wells.md) - [Library-Converted Modern Sheds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-light-box-1.md) - [Historic Showroom Art Galleries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robert-projects.md) - [Playfully Vibrant Studio Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colgio-salesiano.md) - [Alleyway-Inspired Art Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-bund-performing-arts-centre.md) - [Civic Theatre Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-court-theatre.md) - [Detroit Tower Redevelopments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shop-architects-hudson.md)