The renovation of Chicago’s Ramova Theater, a 36,000-sf building in the Bridgeport Neighborhood, has begun. The project includes restoring the theater and building out adjacent space for a new brewery and restaurant at 3510-3520 S. Halsted. The building was originally built in 1929 and has been vacant since 1985.
Upon completion, the renovated Ramova Theater will include a 1,600-seat auditorium at ground level and a separate balcony-level theater that can accommodate 200 people. The venue will be able to host concerts and events for local schools and community groups.
Adjacent to the theater, a separate entrance will lead patrons to a new 4,000-sf brewery and tap room fronting Halsted Street. Brewery operations will extend into the basement that will be within view of the dining and bar area. A 200-person space on the second floor above the brewery and taproom will be able to host private events and intimate musical performances. Additionally, the project will feature the revived 800-sf, 30-seat Ramova Grill restaurant.
The project will also return the lobby and auditorium to its original Spanish courtyard style and restore the existing marquis, the theater’s plaster ceiling and other decorative plaster elements, the ticket booth, and the interior’s faux-marble and gilded plasterwork. The historic brick and terracotta facade along the east face of the building that houses the brewery and restaurant will also be restored.
“We will be restoring numerous architectural details in adherence to National Landmark restoration guidelines,” Andy Totten, McHugh Construction Vice President and Project Executive said, in a release. “Working closely with Baum Revision and the design team’s historic preservation specialists, we will revive the historic features of the building while reinforcing the structure’s infrastructure and bringing the building up to code.”
O’Riley Office is designing the project with McHugh Construction as the general contractor. The restoration project is slated for completion in late 2022.
Related Stories
Reconstruction & Renovation | Jan 26, 2022
Bruner/Cott Architects revives a historic horse and bicycle racing complex
The original complex was built in 1899.
Sponsored | Reconstruction & Renovation | Jan 25, 2022
Concrete buildings: Effective solutions for restorations and major repairs
Architectural concrete as we know it today was invented in the 19th century. It reached new heights in the U.S. after World War II when mid-century modernism was in vogue, following in the footsteps of a European aesthetic that expressed structure and permanent surfaces through this exposed material. Concrete was treated as a monolithic miracle, waterproof and structurally and visually versatile.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Jan 24, 2022
Marvel leads restoration and redesign of El Yunque Visitors’ Center
The project cost $18.1 million.
Adaptive Reuse | Dec 16, 2021
An adaptive reuse of a historic building in San Francisco was worth the wait
A five-year-long project included extensive restoration.
Giants 400 | Dec 5, 2021
2021 Reconstruction Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. building reconstruction and renovation sector
STO Building Group, Alfa Tech Consulting Engineers, Gensler, and Stantec top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest reconstruction sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Nov 15, 2021
Marvel transforms the historic Bedford Armory into a community hub
The project is located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
University Buildings | Jul 12, 2021
UCLA building completes renovations for enhanced seismic, energy, and curriculum requirements
CO Architects designed the project.
Reconstruction & Renovation | May 20, 2021
An Ohio-based sports-themed restaurant offers a less-raucous dining experience for families
Buffalo Wings & Rings initiates a chainwide rollout of a concept designed by NELSON Worldwide.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Apr 28, 2021
SOM completes Willis Tower Skydeck transformation
The renovation includes a new exhibition and a reimagined observation deck.
Adaptive Reuse | Apr 15, 2021
The Weekly Show, Apr 15, 2021: The ins and outs of adaptive reuse, and sensors for real-time construction monitoring
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from PBDW Architects and Wohlsen Construction about what makes adaptive reuse projects successful, and sensors for real-time monitoring of concrete construction.