The architectural firm John Morris Architects has been chosen for the preliminary planning of the “F”/Stage Center building. Morris has designed theatre spaces for many renowned Chicago theatres, including Lookingglass, Steppenwolf, Noble Fool and Northlight, as well as The Old Town School of Folk Music.
The project at NEIU is partially funded by the State of Illinois Capital Development Board, which has appropriated roughly $6 million for it. This remodeling, however, has been in the works for over ten years, and will currently cost approximately $13.8 million. This has made it necessary for NEIU to re-evaluate the original plans for renovation.
Morris is in the process of helping the department with the conceptual designing of the space: figuring out how many rooms are needed, approved square footage, etc. NEIU is hoping to reconfigure the Stage Center Theatre itself with a 150-seat performance space, while keeping the current setup of thrust stage and adding supporting areas. They also wish to redesign the Studio Theatre to seat approximately 65 people, add classrooms and dressing rooms as well.
The Capital Development Board will not release the funds to NEIU until the additional resources have been found and the actual design of the building has been approved. There is no word, as of yet, where the additional monies will come from. It is also undetermined where the productions and theatre classes that are currently held in the building will move to while the building is closed for renovation, or how long the actual construction will take once the necessary funds are procured.