The historic Kings Theatre reopened its doors in 2015 as one of New York's premiere performing arts venues. Providing a destination for large-scale popular entertainment and serving as a resource for local arts groups and community organizations, the City-owned Theatre is a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community and a major fixture to Brooklyn's vibrant cultural landscape. Kings Theatre was originally designed by Rapp & Rapp in 1929 and was one of the five Loew's ‘Wonder Theatres' built in New York and New Jersey during that period. Featuring high curved ceilings, ornate plaster walls, wood paneling, and a glazed terra-cotta ornamental façade, the classic 20th-century movie palace was inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House. Spearheaded by ACE Theatrical Group and designed by Martinez+Johnson Architecture, with Gilbane Building Company serving as construction manager, the redevelopment project both revives the historic structure's original splendor and transforms the Theatre into a state-of-the-art facility with over 3,000 seats—the largest of its kind in Brooklyn. The Theatre was recently selected as a recipient of the 2014 New York State Historic Preservation Award for excellence in preservation and revitalization, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.