Homegrown Talent

The Rockford Theatre rebuild has taken another significant step toward reality.

JLG Architects, a regional architectural firm, has completed much of the design and engineering for the new theatre, including a proposed rendering, specifications and floor plan.

The renderings show a vibrant new theatre that's reminiscent of its former look, and the floor plans show an improved layout with a modern interior.

The theatre's rebuild has been among the top priorities for the community ever since the historic Rockford Theatre was unexpectedly lost in December of 2022. The theatre had been standing in downtown New Rockford for over 100 years when it collapsed due to heavy snow.

As a cornerstone of the community for a century, anyone alive today who has ever called New Rockford home has almost certainly enjoyed a movie there. And as it happens, several of the professionals at JLG Architects are no exception.

The architectural firm is loaded with local talent, including Tracy (Cudworth) Jordre of Warwick, a Principal Architect for JLG; and Riley Longnecker, a 2017 graduate of New Rockford-Sheyenne and a Project Associate with JLG.

Javan and Marissa (Duchscherer) Arroyo – also graduates of NR-S – are professionals at JLG as well, as a job captain and interior designer, respectively. And Jordre said each of them played a role in this project.

So it may not come as any surprise that JLG Architects was excited to take on this project, and they offered to do so completely free of charge, saving the NRABC up to $30,000 in engineering costs.

Longnecker, who helped put together the new floor plan and renderings, said their firm always strives to support projects in small communities like New Rockford, and with so many locals at JLG, he said this project was of a particular interest to many at the firm.

"We like to take on these projects for smaller communities that are really important to us personally, and as a company we really value small communities and these projects that have a big impact on those communities," said Longnecker.

"We love our small communities, we love our hometowns, and we love celebrating where we grew up and the environments that kind of helped shape and build us," added Jordre. "And to be able to work on a project that has such an impact on the community is really important to us."

As part of their work on the theatre project, Longnecker, Jordre and the team at JLG Architects made sure the floor plans will have the building completely up to code and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a major hurdle for any structure to get through.

Hegland told the Transcript that she had previously received a $30,000 quote for engineering on the project, which the NRABC might have had to pay if not for JLG Architects.

She and NRABC Board President Stu Richter also expressed how grateful they were to have so many home grown architects and designers be part of the rebuild.

"We're really fortunate that people are coming back and trying to help their local communities," said Richter.

"I think it brings a hometown spin on the rebuilding of the theatre. They've been great to work with, and it's clear when I talk to them that they're very passionate about this project," added Hegland. "And it just gives us peace of mind to know that everything will be up to code."

The team at JLG architects seemed just as excited to be part of the project. They, of course, have fond memories of the Rockford Theatre from their own childhoods, and now look forward to seeing the theatre return to downtown New Rockford.

"One of my oldest memories of that theatre was going to see the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie there," recalled Longnecker. "It's just a core memory, and I think it was the first PG-13 movie my parents allowed me to go to."

Jordre said she too watched several movies there growing up, and couldn't be happier to be working on the project that will bring the theatre back to life.

"As an architect, we're all about the built environment and being able to impact those that use our environments," she said. "And when we're able to impact where we're from and our family and friends, it's just the best and most meaningful thing we can do as an architect.

"So it's just a great honor that Marissa, Javan, Riley and I, alongside several others, have had a chance to be able to help the community that we love."

With plans from JLG Architects now in place, the project is already moving forward with its next steps. The NRABC and a team from Cash and Carry Lumber met with the architectural firm on Wednesday to iron out several more details, and Richter stressed how important it is to get started so the community can see progress being made.

Meanwhile, efforts are still underway to raise enough money to rebuild the theatre.

Hegland said that between money pledged and donated, the NRABC over $250,000, and are trying to raise 500K for the first phase of the project, which is to rebuild the structure itself. Phase 2 will be turning the building into a state-of-the-art theatre.

Donate to NRABC theater account with Bank Forward, or mail a check to the NRABC at City Hall, at 117 1st Street South.