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
| Apr 9, 2014
Colossal aquarium in China sets five Guinness World Records
With its seven salt and fresh water aquariums, totaling 12.87 million gallons, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park is considered the world’s largest aquarium.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.
| Apr 8, 2014
Gehry, Foster unveil plans for Battersea Power Station redevelopment [slideshow]
Phase 3 of the massive redevelopment of the London landmark will include more than 1,300 residential units, a 160-room hotel, and 350,000 sf of retail space.
| Apr 2, 2014
8 tips for avoiding thermal bridges in window applications
Aligning thermal breaks and applying air barriers are among the top design and installation tricks recommended by building enclosure experts.
| Mar 26, 2014
Callison launches sustainable design tool with 84 proven strategies
Hybrid ventilation, nighttime cooling, and fuel cell technology are among the dozens of sustainable design techniques profiled by Callison on its new website, Matrix.Callison.com.
| Mar 26, 2014
Zaha Hadid's glimmering 'cultural hub of Seoul' opens with fashion, flair [slideshow]
The new space, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, is a blend of park and cultural spaces meant for the public to enjoy.
| Mar 25, 2014
Sydney breaks ground on its version of the High Line elevated park [slideshow]
The 500-meter-long park will feature bike paths, study pods, and outdoor workspaces.
Sponsored | | Mar 21, 2014
Kameleon Color paint creates color-changing, iridescent exterior for Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral
Linetec finishes Firestone’s UNA-CLAD panels, achieving a one-of-a-kind, dynamic appearance with the first use of Valspar’s new Kameleon Color
| Mar 20, 2014
Common EIFS failures, and how to prevent them
Poor workmanship, impact damage, building movement, and incompatible or unsound substrate are among the major culprits of EIFS problems.
| Mar 13, 2014
Do you really 'always turn right'?
The first visitor center we designed was the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center for the Everglades National Park in 1993. I remember it well for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the ongoing dialogue we had with our retail consultant. He insisted that the gift shop be located on the right as one exited the visitor center because people “always turn right.”