Phase 1: John Benjamin House Renovation and Addition
The Town of Stratford under Mayor Laura R. Hoydick is moving forward with a transformative redevelopment project for the former Shakespeare Theatre property on Elm Street, guided by valuable community input gathered during the initial public consultation. Responding to residents’ desire to prioritize the historic John Benjamin House, also known as “the White House,” the Town selected architectural and engineering firm Svigals + Partners, an FCA company, and initiated the first phase of the project.
The most recent schematic design for the restoration and addition of the John Benjamin House, prepared for the Stratford Redevelopment Agency by Svigals + Partners, an FCA company can be found at: https://www.stratfordct.gov/page/performing-arts-complex
The Town Council referred this project and its plan to the Building Needs Committee at the May 2025 Town Council meeting.
The proposed building design capitalizes on the 1840s house by using the main floor as gallery and public space, updating the kitchen, bathroom and removing the external fire stairway. A new addition to the rear will add a ramp connecting to the existing building, that will house an elevator providing ADA access to all 3 floors, ADA bathrooms and a large 30 x 40’ multipurpose room. The lower level will incorporate the addition and add 4 planned studios. A walkout ground level garden area is envisioned to compliment the beauty of Will’s Garden which is developed and maintained on the property. The second story will house 5 studios in the existing house and add 6 in the new addition and will have 2 ADA bathrooms.
