Chicago's iconic Auditorium Theatre is embarking on an ambitious restoration project that will return key architectural elements to their original 1889 design as envisioned by renowned architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler. The 135-year-old landmark theater at 50 E. Ida B. Wells will undergo a comprehensive renovation of its famous 108-panel stained-glass skylight and surrounding atrium, located directly above the main balcony.
"We know we've got our work cut out for us," said architect Matt McNicholas, who also serves as an Auditorium board member. "We're very excited about the way this is going to shock people, because it hasn't been seen in anyone's lifetime." The restoration project is scheduled for completion by fall 2027 and carries a total price tag of nearly $3 million, funded through donations from local organizations and a prestigious $625,000 federal grant from the National Park Service's Saving America's Treasures program.
The renovation will mark a historic milestone by allowing sunlight to shine through the stained-glass panels for the first time in the building's entire history, according to McNicholas. The original panels were designed by renowned stained glass artists George Healy and Louis Millet in 1889, crafted from jewels and featuring organic shapes inspired by nature, intertwined with elaborate knot patterns. These designs became popular through Sullivan's signature neo-Celtic style that defined much of Chicago's architecture during that era.
The artistic significance of Healy and Millet's work extended far beyond Chicago's borders. Their panels were so impressive that the pair exhibited them at the Paris World's Fair of 1889 to showcase Chicago's architectural innovation, and their work forever changed how the rest of the world views stained glass artistry. This international recognition helped establish Chicago as a major center for architectural and artistic innovation in the late 19th century.
Beyond the stained glass restoration, crews will also work to restore Sullivan's signature Celtic stenciling found on the atrium's walls. His intricate stencils decorate the walls and floors throughout the entire building, but for decades, eight layers of paint have concealed the originals along the atrium walls. According to McNicholas, those original stencils likely haven't been seen since the 1920s, making their restoration a particularly exciting archaeological endeavor.
During the project's discovery phase, preservationists employed a meticulous chemical process to carefully expose the hidden stencils. "They also mapped out what everything would have looked like when it opened to the public in 1889," explained Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan. Next summer, construction crews will suspend a large work deck from the atrium to safely prepare all surfaces for new stencil, paint, and gilding applications. The restoration team will address the stained glass simultaneously with the stencil work.
Unlike a major restoration project in 1967 that forced the building to close for more than a year, this renovation will allow the theater to remain operational throughout the entire process. Thanks to modern systems such as the suspended platform Regan mentioned, performances and events can continue uninterrupted, ensuring that the theater maintains its role as a vital cultural venue for the Chicago community.
As one of the country's last remaining buildings designed by the legendary partnership of Sullivan and Adler, Auditorium Theatre leaders hope their restoration project will serve as a leading example of historic preservation for other at-risk structures nationwide. "It's about the history and the presence of this theater – and the ideas of democracy behind the design," McNicholas explained, referring to the innovative way box seats were built on the left and right sides of the house rather than directly in front, making the theater more egalitarian than traditional venues.
When the Auditorium Theatre first opened its doors in 1889, it held the distinction of being the tallest building in the United States. Given its age and the natural wear from time, temperature fluctuations, and limited historical resources, the theater exists in a constant state of restoration, Regan noted. Over recent years, various parts of the building have received significant updates, including all 3,875 seats throughout the house, including those in private boxes, plus new sound, lighting, and HVAC systems.
The architectural partnership between Sullivan and Dankmar Adler is widely regarded as one of the most influential collaborations in American architectural history. The pair officially began working together on the Auditorium project in 1886 with assistance from Frank Lloyd Wright, a 22-year-old intern who would later become a towering figure in architecture. Regan expressed hope that these pioneering architects would be amazed to see their creation not only still standing but thriving, especially considering that many of their other Chicago structures have been demolished over the years.
"They would be amazed to see that the Auditorium is not just standing, but operating, filled with shows and restoration work," Regan said. During a recent project walkthrough, the sounds of Americana guitarist and singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs floated up to the atrium as his band conducted a soundcheck for that evening's concert, demonstrating the theater's continued vitality as a performance venue.
The theater serves as a versatile cultural resource for the Chicago community, hosting an impressive variety of entertainment. "We're a resource for the community," Regan emphasized, "whether it's music or whether it's comedy, or whether it's spoken word, or whether it's acting, we have such variety here." Recent high-profile events have included sold-out David Byrne concerts, a conversation with former Vice President Kamala Harris about her political memoir "107 Days," and hosting "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
The venue's historical significance extends beyond architecture to American political history. The theater has served as a stage for several former U.S. presidents during their political campaigns, including Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt in 1912 when he was nominated by the Bull Moose Party. "The history that has happened within the walls here is just incredible," McNicholas observed, noting that the significance goes far beyond the physical structure itself.
Among the most notable political moments in the theater's history, Roosevelt delivered his famous "Armageddon" speech from the Auditorium stage, declaring that "the time is ripe, and overripe, for a genuine Progressive movement." Additionally, during the 1916 Republican National Convention held at the venue, the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage introduced the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, later known as the 19th Amendment, which would effectively grant women the right to vote. These pivotal moments in American democracy underscore the theater's role not just as an entertainment venue, but as a witness to the nation's political evolution.
