Steppenwolf Theater
1650 North Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois
Befitting the Steppenwolf ensemble, known for its honest and often gritty stage productions, its present home, completed in 1991, presents a similar face to the public: a straight forward, no-nonsense almost industrial character. The 500 seat playhouse style theater within has a similar directness with its exposed concrete walls, steel balcony over the main floor and box seats on either side of the stage. The stage has a full fly loft and floor-trapping. Additional spaces include a studio theater, rehearsal room and offices. The theater was the result of a collaboration between Lisec & Biederman, Ltd., the architect of record, and James, Morris and Kutyla as theater designers and consultants along with Steppenwolf designer Kevin Rigdon.
Client: Steppenwolf Theater Company
Team: James Morris & Kutyla Architects, associate theater designers
Scope: 500 seat theater, studio theater, rehearsal space, offices