Robert Shook FASTC, FIALD

Founder

Robert Shook is a creative and skillful design collaborator who genuinely enjoys the design process. He enthusiastically brings to every project a wealth of experience in theatre planning and architectural lighting design. He has been involved in the planning and equipping of hundreds of theatres around the world, and he promotes intimacy and flexibility as key components in successful theatre design.

A knowledge leader in the field, he is featured in the stage lighting textbooks, Scene Design and Stage Lighting and also Stage Lighting: Foundations and Applications.

As a lighting designer, he firmly believes that lighting should not overwhelm the architect’s vision, but should enhance the experience of the architecture. Robert is a strong proponent of the collaborative process in the development of successful theatre and lighting designs.

Significant Projects

Education

  • BFA - Goodman School of Drama
  • MFA - Ohio University

Organizations

  • American Society of Theatre Consultants, Fellow
  • International Association of Lighting Designers, Fellow
  • Illuminating Engineering Society
  • International Association of Venue Managers
  • International Society for the Performing Arts
  • United States Institute for Theatre Technology
  • American Institute of Architects, Professional Affiliate

Presentations & Panels

  • “Modern Concert Halls: Accommodating Expanding Needs” - USITT National Conference, 2015
  • “Urban Light” - The University of Chicago, 2015
  • “Sustainability Mythbusters” - USITT National Conference, 2013
  • “The Front Door: Modern Front of House Design” – International Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference, London, 2010
  • “Millennium Park after Dark” - IALD Enlighten Europe, London, 2010
  • “Keys to Collaboration: Successful Teams and Buildings” - USITT National Conference, 2010
  • “It’s Not Just Lighting the Stage Anymore - Cross-over and Lighting Designers Then and Now” - USITT National Conference, 2010
  • “The Role of the Architect in Theatre Facility Design” - North American Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference, 2008
  • “Evolution in the Design of Front of House Spaces” - USITT National Conference, 2009
  • “Architectural Dimming and Controls” - USITT National Conference, 2009
  • “Lighting for Museums and Galleries” - USITT National Conference, 2007
  • “Making Great Multipurpose Theatres” - USITT National Conference, 2007
  • "Making Flexible Truly Spectacular" - TCG National Conference, 2007
  • “It’s All in the Details” - IALD Education Conference, 2007
  • “The Value of Using a Lighting Designer” - NeoCon, 2007
  • "Buildings for Tomorrow's Audience: What Do Our Theatres Need?" - TCG National Conference, 2006
  • "Top 10 Blunders in Theatre Planning (and How to Fix 'Em)" - TCG National Conference, 2005
  • "Lighting and Glass" - Lightfair, 2004
  • "Role of Lighting in Urban Planning" - IALD Education Conference, 2003
  • "Lighting for Historical Churches" - Lightfair, 1999
  • "Applying Theatrical Techniques to Architectural Lighting" - Lightfair, 1995

Awards

  • DePaul University, The Theatre School
    • USITT Hon­or Award, 2016
    • AIA Chica­go Hon­or Award, 2015
    • Chica­go Build­ing Con­gress CBC/COAA Own­ers’ Choice Award, 2014
  • Lookingglass Theatre Company
    • USITT Mer­it Award, 2005
    • AIA Chica­go Design Excel­lence Award, 2004
    • Chica­go Build­ing Con­gress Mer­it Award, 2004
    • Friends of Down­town Adap­tive Reuse Award, 2004
    • Chica­go Land­mark Award for Preser­va­tion Excel­lence, 2003
  • Ravinia, Martin Theatre
    • USITT Hon­or Award, 1994

  • Navy Pier, Skyline Stage

    • USITT Mer­it Award, 1998
  • Chicago Board of Trade
    • IES Inter­na­tion­al Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Excel­lence, 2007
    • IALD Spe­cial Cita­tion for Use of Mod­ern Tech­nol­o­gy, 2007
    • Chica­go Land­marks Preser­va­tion Excel­lence Award, 2007
  • Calder Flamingo Sculpture
    • IALD Award of Mer­it, 1999
    • IES Inter­na­tion­al Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award, 1999
  • Shedd Aquarium Caribbean Reef Exhibit
    • IES Inter­na­tion­al Award of Dis­tinc­tion, 2000
    • Gen­er­al Elec­tric Light­ing Award of Mer­it, 2000
    • AIA Chica­go Hon­or Award, 2000
  • Old St. Patrick's Church
    • IES Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Mer­it, 2001
    • AIA Hon­or Award, 2001

  • Second Street Bridge

    • IES Inter­na­tion­al Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Excel­lence, 1999
  • Chicago Water Tower Restoration
    • IES Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Mer­it, 1999
  • Shedd Aquarium Wild Reef Exhibit
    • IES Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Mer­it, 2004

  • American National Bank

    • GE Award of Mer­it, 1995

  • RiverEdge Park

    • IES Illu­mi­na­tion Design Award of Mer­it, 2014
    • GE Spe­cial Cita­tion, 2013