Name: Auditorium Theatre
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Size:
Cost: $15 million
Completed: Estimated 2003
The world-renowned Auditorium Theatre, designed by Louis Sullivan, most recently was the home of many blockbuster musicals, including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. With the opening of the nearby Oriental and Palace Theaters, their expanded capability and full size stage houses, the 3800-seat Auditorium and its opera-sized stage is no longer the only house in the city for full-size Broadway musicals.
To maintain its competitive position, a facility Master Plan was developed to identify needed facility improvements and establish a long-term capital plan to implement them. This included historically accurate, museum-quality restoration analysis of existing interior features and finishes and the development of a complete restoration plan.
The State of Illinois and the Auditorium Theater Council Board committed nearly $15M of funding for the first phase of the Master Plan. This included substantial infrastructure and restoration work that was accomplished in two fast-tracked summertime phases. These included HVAC Relocation and Decorative Painting Restoration, Stage Block Reconstruction, with a new stage trap and an expanded orchestra pit. A large complement of new dressing rooms and other back stage support spaces were also added.
Images and description courtesy of Richaven Architecture & Preservation and Daniel P. Coffey & Associates, Ltd. Initial PA work performed by Brian Rich at Daniel P. Coffey & Associates, Ltd.