The architecture duo Amy Shell and Razvan Voroneanu, co-founders of Common Projects Newburgh, have transformed an empty lot in Newburgh, New York into an outdoor cultural hub called the Newburgh Cinemabox. This venture is powered by an Epson Pro Series large venue laser projector with 4K Enhancement. The project follows the 2023 closure of the city's last movie theater, which left residents with limited access to film and art experiences.
The Newburgh Cinemabox measures 19 by 18 feet at its base and 13 feet high, with a 20-by-10-foot stage and two foldable polycarbonate doors that encase a 240-inch rear-projection screen. The projector is mounted on a custom railing system with an Epson stacking frame and a lift mechanism, enabling Shell and Voroneanu — who work full-time jobs outside this project — to move the equipment up and down and adjust image size for different types of content by themselves without requiring a technical crew.
Image Credit: Common Projects Newburgh
What's Driving This Trend
- Portable Projection Infrastructure
- Decentralized high-quality cinematic experiences emerge from compact, motorized projection rigs that reduce technical staffing needs.
- Adaptive Micro-entertainment Venues
- Small, modular stages with foldable enclosures support multi-format programming that can transform underutilized lots into year-round cultural nodes.
- Community-driven Cultural Retrofit
- Local initiatives repurpose vacant urban parcels into curated outdoor arts spaces that prioritize accessibility and low-capital technological integration.
Who This Affects Most
- Outdoor Events Technology
- The proliferation of portable laser projection and automated mounting systems supports rental ecosystems tailored to pop-up cultural programming.
- Urban Real Estate Development
- Redevelopment strategies increasingly monetize infill lots through programmable cultural activations that blend public value with short-term leasing models.
- Audiovisual Manufacturing
- Demand for compact, ruggedized, high-lumen laser projectors drives product innovation toward stackable frames and user-friendly adjustment mechanisms.
