Morris Architects Planners (MAP) is dedicated to designing theater spaces that enhance artistic expression through a collaborative approach, integrating client input, expert consultation, and the firm’s architectural vision. By deeply understanding the unique needs of each theater company, MAP creates venues that serve as dynamic tools for performance, fostering creativity and engagement between performers, directors, and audiences. With expertise in staging techniques, audience experience, acoustics, and emerging technologies, the firm ensures that every aspect of a theater lighting, rigging, and HVAC systems is seamlessly integrated to support productions of all scales. From intimate black box theaters to expansive performance halls, MAP’s commitment to flexibility allows spaces to adapt to evolving artistic needs.
Founded in 1984, MAP has established itself as a leader in theater design, shaped by John Morris’s background in both architecture and theater arts. This interdisciplinary perspective enables the firm to craft spaces that are not only functional and aesthetically refined but also deeply reflective of each client’s artistic vision. MAP is involved in every stage of a project—from space programming and design development to construction oversight ensuring that every decision aligns with the creative and operational demands of performing arts organizations.
MAP’s portfolio includes award-winning projects that have become integral to Chicago’s cultural landscape, such as the Old Town School of Folk Music and Lookingglass Theatre Company. These spaces exemplify the firm’s ability to create architecturally distinctive and artistically resonant environments that support performance and community engagement. With ongoing projects across the country, including the Green Line Arts Center and Delta Center Stage, MAP continues to push the boundaries of theater design, creating inspiring spaces that elevate the performing arts experience for both artists and audiences.
