Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Issue 2 The Elixir of Love

Built in 1929, the Lyric Opera House’s now 3,276-seat auditorium recently completed a seating recon guration to increase accessibility and overall comfort, as well as improve stage sightlines. The overarching goal was to enhance audience experience while maintaining the historic building that has been a jewel within Chicago’s cultural and architectural community for decades. Michael Smallwood, Lyric’s vice president and technical director, explained, “We replaced the seats during our last major renovation in the 1990s, so they were in need of an upgrade. We also had been looking at the sightlines when it came to the main oor; there was no staggering, and every seat was placed directly behind another. We also needed to consider accessibility. Thanks to a very generous anonymous donor, who really cared about the project—particularly when it came to making the venue accessible for everyone—we were able to fund this renovation.” To help complete this project, Lyric enlisted the help of leading consultants. Theater design and planning rm Schuler Shook assisted in identifying new seats for the venue; Kirkegaard, a design rm that specializes in architectural acoustics, was brought in to ensure the incredible sound of the opera house remained the same; architects at Goettsch Partners created the new seating design; and Bulley & Andrews were the contractors tasked with the installation. Schuler Shook is no stranger when it comes to the Lyric Opera House; its history dates back to 1977 when Duane Schuler began as Lyric’s resident lighting designer. Todd Hensley, partner at Schuler Shook, later became Schuler’s assistant lighting designer. Schuler Shook also planned Lyric’s comprehensive venue renovation in the mid-1990s. Hensley explained the design process: “Lyric asked us to develop potential layouts to increase row-to-row spacing on the main oor, offset the rows to create staggered seating and better sightlines, and expand the number of accessible seating locations throughout the hall. With The Joffrey Ballet joining the Lyric in residence at the opera house, it was an even more logical time to address these improvements.” Schuler Shook worked through approximately 30 layout options. “We visited the archives at the Chicago History Museum to see Lyric’s seats from the 1970s, and to con rm their shape, end panels, and upholstery. This gave us good perspective on how we wanted the new seats to re ect past designs. We also Renovations provide a more comfortable experience Darris Lee Harris Photography Lyric is immensely grateful to the generous Anonymous Donor that funded our seating renovation project in support of Lyric’s Patron Accessibility Initiative.