Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Theater Company has welcomed up-and-coming playwrights for 33 years. In 2004, the company expanded its campus with the purchase of the Biograph Theater for its new main stage. Built in 1914, the theater was one of the city's oldest remaining neighborhood movie houses, and it was part of Chicago's gangster lore: in 1934, John Dillinger was gunned down by the FBI in the Biograph's alley.
Architect Daniel P. Coffey, FAIA, of Daniel P. Coffey and Associates, and general contractor Pepper Construction preserved the landmark exterior, restoring the façade and replacing the historic marquee with a replica of the original.
Inside, the old movie house had been chopped up into a hodge-podge cineplex. The Building Team and the theater company “wanted something unexpected and fresh,” said Coffey. Once inside, theatergoers would enter Victory Gardens' “new world.”
That “new world” had to be created in a relatively small space—30,000 sf—and on a tight construction budget—about $6.4 million. The Building Team created a lobby that puts on a performance of its own, creating the appearance of a pricier and larger space than it actually is. Hints of cherry hardwood trim and marble counters were used to suggest a heftier budget. Drywall “clouds” and mirrors were added to make it appear more expansive.
In the theater itself, the company wanted an intimate space for both audience and performers. The walls were painted rich colors of ochre and burgundy to create a warm atmosphere. The 299 seats were angled to achieve ideal sightlines with minimal blocking; no patron is more than 45 feet from the stage.
“There's not a bad seat in the house,” said Reconstruction Awards judge Walker Johnson, FAIA, who added, “While the regular theatergoers have remained very loyal, this new venue can only help vault Victory Gardens to new heights.”
Related Stories
Museums | Oct 3, 2017
Denmark’s new LEGO experience hub looks like it’s made out of giant LEGO blocks
The 12,000-sm building is part of Billund, Denmark’s goal to become the ‘Capital for Children.’
Museums | Aug 15, 2017
Underground Railroad Visitor Center tells story of oppression, then freedom
The museum is conceived as a series of abstracted forms made up of two main structures, one administrative and one exhibit.
Cultural Facilities | Jul 13, 2017
A WWII bunker becomes a museum along Denmark’s coast
BIG’s design of this cultural center is the “antithesis” of the fortress.
Museums | Jul 5, 2017
Addition by subtraction: Art Share L.A. renovation strips away its acquired superfluity
The redesign of the 28,000-sf building is prioritizing flexibility, openness, and connectivity.
Performing Arts Centers | Jun 30, 2017
L.A.’s John Anson Ford Amphitheater might finally be ready for its close-up
The performing arts venue, nearly a century old, has undergone an extensive refurbishing.
Building Team | Jun 27, 2017
Bruner Foundation announces 2017 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence gold and silver medalists
The SteelStacks Arts and Cultural Campus in Bethlehem, Pa., receives the gold medal and $50,000.
Libraries | May 31, 2017
A year after its facelift, Boston’s Public Library is relevant again
Visitors are flocking to its brighter, connected halls, which now include retail and digital components.
Cultural Facilities | May 25, 2017
The Shed, a multi-arts center on New York’s west side, moves forward in construction and funding
The facility, designed for maximum programming flexibility, includes a massive movable shell.
Cultural Facilities | May 4, 2017
Obama Foundation reveals first look at the Obama Presidential Center
The design comprises three buildings set in the public space of Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side.
Performing Arts Centers | Mar 6, 2017
An oval defines the Frank Gehry-designed Pierre Boulez Saal concert hall
The hall hosted its debut concert on Saturday, March 4 with a performance by the Boulez Ensemble.