Construction on our new home has reached a thrilling milestone! We’ve officially surpassed the halfway mark of construction on the site at 5035 N. Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, located just steps away from the new CTA Red Line Argyle stop that opened one week ago.
Key progress thus far includes:
- The concrete pre-cast panels that form much of the walls, floors, and other framing are fully in place, and the roof has been completed to “cap” the building.
- Steel framing has been installed throughout the exterior to accept the glass curtain wall that will provide a dramatic window to activities within the building.
- The steel catwalk has been installed inside the theater space, ready to provide safe access for placing the lights, rigging, and other equipment critical to creating live stagecraft.
- Framing of interior spaces—theater, lobby, bar/cafe, rehearsal room, education space, dressing rooms, green room, costume storage, bathrooms, backstage, offices, and more—is nearly complete.
- MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) installation is on schedule.
“The structure—constructed entirely from precast elements, including architectural precast, hollow core plank, precast double tees, and precast beams and columns—allowed us to complete structural work in just five weeks following foundations,” said Brendan Keane, division leader at Bulley & Andrews. “That speed and efficiency were made possible by close coordination among all project partners.”
At the top of construction punch list in the coming weeks is painting the exterior concrete facing Broadway a purple-hued sheen (a color inspired by the brick façade of the former Reebie Bros. warehouse on the site); installation of the exterior curtain wall for the street-facing façade; continuing with installation of interior mechanical, electric and plumbing on all five stories of the building; placing concrete sprung floors in the theater and rehearsal spaces; building interior stairwells; installing two elevators; putting up interior drywall; grinding and polishing exposed concrete flooring; soundproofing; installing a fire protection system; building out the bar and café space, and more.
“This is a moment we’ve dreamed about, talked about, and planned toward for years. And it’s happening,” said TimeLine Theatre Artistic Director PJ Powers. “It’s thrilling beyond words to see the construction progress on our new home and to stand inside the walls of our new theater, seeing it take shape. We reached this milestone thanks to an incredibly passionate group of supporters, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone to Uptown.”
“It’s a thrilling moment for all of us helping shape a new home for TimeLine Theatre—walking the spaces as the form begins to emerge and feeling their potential. As the structure rises, the design comes to life, revealing beautifully proportioned volumes, abundant natural light, and gracious spaces that will serve artists, audiences, and staff for years to come,” said Jim Moore, principal at HGA.
“We’re excited to see the catwalks going up into the theatre space,” said Christopher Sprague, ASTC, Principal, Schuler Shook. “This is the moment when the empty box takes on the sense that there’s a theatre in this volume and not just a big open space. It is a huge milestone among so many other huge milestones for TimeLine’s new home!”
Check out this timelapse video of the theater catwalks panels being installed:
Schuler Shook specializes in lighting design, theater design, and audio/video design, and has helped plan and design state-of-the-art theatre spaces for venues around the world. The firm’s Chicago office has consulted with TimeLine on the company’s new home search, planning, and build project for more than 15 years, since 2010.
“With construction halfway completed, we’re less than 10 months away from opening An Enemy of the People in that space, directed by TimeLine Company Member Ron OJ Parson,” added Powers. “It will be an incredible, inaugural production, featuring the type of provocative, mission-driven story that’s distinguished TimeLine’s first 29 years, while elevating the overall TimeLine experience both on stage and off.”
We are very grateful to our incredible design and construction team, including HGA, Schuler Shook, Threshold Acoustics, Bulley & Andrews, and Cullen Construction Management.
We’re also immensely grateful to all the generous supporters who have made this project possible. Since launching our capital campaign, “IT’S TIME: The Campaign for TimeLine’s New Home,” TimeLine has successfully raised more than $41.5 million toward the approximately $46 million project cost, including $12.9 million in public support ($2.9 million from the State of Illinois, $10 million from the City of Chicago), and funds from more than 200 individual donors. If you’d like to learn more about how you can support TimeLine’s new home project, please reach out to Miguel Fernández, Director of Development, at miguel@timeline.gameflow.design or (773) 281-8463 x130.
Visit our It’s Time page for further details, including design renderings and more construction photos.