UNITED THEATRE
Ticket Booth
WESTERLY, RI
When the United Theatre opened its doors in 2021, the intention was to have all transactions happen via mobile devices and that all tickets would be purchased online. This didn’t account for people who spontaneously decided to pop in for a movie, nor did it address how visitors were to be greeted in an empty lobby. We were tasked with creating a welcoming front desk that could handle ticket transactions, general informational queries, and provide a friendly reception upon arrival. The design had many constraints. It needed to take into consideration traffic flow, means of egress, a sloped floor, power and internet connections and equipment requirements, plus it needed to be removable. Initial sketches led to three plan options, to multiple small models and then to a full-size mockup. The design process was iterative with considerable client feedback. Working closely with the artisan who built the ticket booth, we tested construction techniques and details to create a graceful insertion to the lobby that looks like it was always meant to be there.
Photos by Meg Lyons