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Athenaeum Theatre

  • Location: Chicago, Illinois
  • Completion: 2004
  • Project size: 18,000 sf
  • Consultants:

    Structural Engineer: Peter R. Krallitsch
    MEP: The Cartland Company

The Athenaeum opened in 1911 and was constructed by St. Alphonsus Church as a recreational center serving the local community. The building featured a 1000-seat theater for German Operetta, a gymnasium, bowling alleys, music and meeting rooms. Over the years, meeting rooms gave way to classrooms and the theater became a temporary church in the early 1950's after a devastating fire damaged the church. Today, the Athenaeum is once again fulfilling it's original purpose. Offices and studio theaters now occupy former meeting room spaces and the 1000-seat theater has been updated. Morris Architects Planners renovated spaces of the building, including the main entrance, signage, lobby, and elevator.