Nichols Architects, LLC. was commissioned by Ron Mercurio to execute the renovations of the “Ye village Studio”, built in 1913, by Mary Eddy Hoyt, in Ogunquit, Maine. The extensive renovations brought new life and purpose to the former performance studio and art gallery. The design concept was to reflect the playful heritage of the former theatre, thought by local lore to be the first stage that the actress Betty Davis ever performed on while she worked as a teenage lifeguard on the Ogunquit beaches, in the two new residential condominiums.

Two new condominium units were created. One condominium housed 1,300 square feet while a larger condominium contained 3,700 square feet. A total of seven bedrooms and five and one half baths were developed in the former theater space. Views were taken into consideration to enhance the limited ocean exposure on the site. The extensive renovations included re-supporting the roof ridge of the former auditorium with a 40-foot long steel I-beam that was hoisted into place by crane. Dewey Nichols designed six cherry stained, wood collar ties, each housing eight light fixtures to provide direct and indirect lighting for the 25 feet high ceiling in the new great-room. The existing stage and its related enclosure was rebuilt and converted to a master bedroom suite as was the 1,300 s.f. condominium.