The Howard Theatre was the first African American owned theatre in the country, captivating audiences with music, dance, drama, and comedy for most of the twentieth century. The theatre was renovated and reopened after being abandoned and left to ruin for almost 32 years.

Schuler Shook was involved from the beginning of the $29 million project, providing seating layouts, sightline studies, support space layouts, stage lighting, rigging system design, production infrastructure assistance, and interior and exterior architectural lighting design.