Lookingglass Theatre Company
Chicago, IL
Lookingglass is one of Chicago’s hottest theatre companies and a Regional Tony Award® winner in 2011. Recognizing their promise in the early 2000’s, the City of Chicago granted Lookingglass a long-term lease on a prime Chicago location: the Water Tower Pumping Station.
One half of the Pumping Station is used to pump water to Chicago’s North side. The other half, once a storage and repair area, is now Lookingglass’ home.
Lookingglass is known for high-energy productions that often rely on circus arts. Working with Morris Architects/Planners, Schuler Shook planned the theatre as an extremely modular space. The seating and staging can be arranged in many combinations up to 299 seats, and the four-sided surround gallery can be completely removed. Very capable lighting catwalks, rigging support steel and power, and a trapped stage area complete the support for the artists producing “Theatre That Moves.”
The much-praised Lookingglass Theatre Company’s space that rivals its productions.”
The New York Times
…a small but spectacular new theater that has been built inside one of Chicago’s most beloved landmarks, the [Chicago] Water Works.”
Stephen Kinzer, The New York Times
Project Details
Service
Architect
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Morris Architects/Planners
Acoustician
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Threshold Acoustics
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Talaske
Recognition
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USITT Merit Award, 2005
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AIA Chicago Design Excellence Award, 2004
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Chicago Building Congress Merit Award, 2004
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Friends of Downtown Adaptive Reuse Award, 2004
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Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence, 2003
