STEPPENWOLF THEATRE
The 500-seat Steppenwolf Theatre includes a main stage, a studio theater, and a full size rehearsal room and offices. The design response integrated these elements into a single structure that provides separate circulation for actors, patrons and technicians. The street facade, with its broad-shouldered concrete colonnade and dark brick masonry, firmly places the building in its reclaimed industrial neighborhood. The interior of the auditorium continues the simple palette of materials. The curved balcony front and precisely positioned box seats frame the stage apron in steel and rough concrete, in contrast to the rich color and texture of the draperies and seats. The auditorium brings to mind the alley and side street vernacular buildings at the edges of Chicago's notable architectural tradition.

Number of seats: 500.
Location: Chicago, Illinois.