Our firm has represented clients across the entertainment sector, including architecture and interior design firms, real estate developers, and not-for-profit organizations, in the design, redevelopment, and construction of theaters, gaming centers, museums, zoos, and other entertainment facilities.
Entertainment projects rarely present simple propositions. They often involve concurrent design disciplines, phased construction, and complex funding arrangements. Our role is to guide clients through such challenges while protecting their professional and economic interests.
Mass Developments and Large Renovations
In the theater space, we used AIA Document B101–2017, Agreement Between Owner and Architect, for the restoration of a historic theater as one component in a comprehensive $90 million redevelopment project costing $45 million. This meant balancing the restoration of a long-abandoned landmark with contemporary needs, including retail, office space, and affordable housing. We addressed a complex design scope involving architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) engineering, facade restoration, and food service consulting, under a blended funding structure combining public and private sources.
For casino developments, our work has ranged from full-service hotel and casino builds, with architectural and interior design fees of approximately $1.5 million, to phased gaming space renovations for existing malls. Such contracts involved gaming regulation compliance, concept-to-construction administration design deliverables, model room review procedures, and FF&E administration. We have also negotiated subconsultant contracts where our interior designer clients did not have much bargaining leverage on prime contracts.
In museum practice, we advised on the restoration of historic structures for special library collections and major museum projects. Our recommendations involved preparing agreements between record architects and design architects, addressing scope delineation, design credit, intellectual property rights, and using AIA Document B111–2022, Agreement Between Owner and Design Architect, AIA Document B112–2022, Agreement Between Owner and Architect of Record, and AIA Document E205–2022, Architects’ Scope and Responsibility Matrix.
Protecting Clients and Managing Risk
For nonprofit clients, we have helped architects transform one-way vendor contracts into equitable professional services agreements, protecting liability, intellectual property, and standard of care obligations. Beyond negotiation, we have advised design professionals on avoiding liability, including helping our client to mitigate liability exposure in a $250,000 patron injury lawsuit against an amusement facility and protecting architects from default judgments in out-of-state litigation.
We have also handled walk-away arrangements when projects were halted halfway through due to disagreements among owner-side partners, specifying settlement terms and intellectual property licenses to allow clients to exit unproblematically and at low risk.
For owners and developers, we have negotiated AIA Document A101–2017, Agreement Between Owner and Contractor (Stipulated Sum), and AIA Document A102–2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor (Cost of the work plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price) on behalf of swim schools and commercial spaces with an entertainment focus. These agreements addressed liquidated damages, phased build-outs, tight lease schedules, early completion incentives, and compliance with the public health code.
Work With Us
Our services include public culture institutions and high-stakes private entertainment venues. We always tailor contracts to the unique operational, financial, and reputational demands of entertainment sector clients.
Whether you are constructing an entertainment space or navigating complex contracts, our attorneys can provide strategic counsel to protect your interests and keep your project on track. Speak with one of our attorneys today about your next entertainment venture.
