Lyric management worked with one of the country's leading theater planning firms, Schuler Shook, to identify new theater seats with acoustic engineers at Kirkegaard to ensure that the theater's excellent acoustics would remain intact with architects at Goettsch Partners to create the new seating design with ESD on the mechanical and electrical engineering aspects of the theater space with Klein and Hoffman as the structural engineers to ensure the integrity of the building and with contractors Bulley and Andrews on board for the physical installation.
LYRIC OPERA CHICAGO VEW FROM SEC E FULL
Lyric is working with a full team of leading consultants to realize this seating renovation project. Further, all brass fixtures were protected with bubble wrap, all artwork was removed and safely stored, and all light fixtures had their glass covers removed and stored by our stagehands for protection. All lobby floors, stairways, and walls were covered. These movable seats are being completely remade by The Furniture Shop, Inc., a south-side Chicago-based artisanal furniture refurbishing, refinishing, and upholstery firm, specializing in fine furniture preservation and repair.Īs our stagehands completed the removal of the old seats from the theater, Bully & Andrews personnel began erecting protective barriers throughout the theater. Most of our construction waste is being recycled or reused, and thankfully we were able to "upcycle" our existing 288 box-seat chairs. Our various vendors, suppliers, and contractors are similarly committed to sustainable construction and business practices. From the very beginning, we knew we wanted this project to be as "green" as possible. More than 3,500 old seats were packed into shipping containers to be stored at our south-side warehouse until we are able to find them a new home. The most obvious modification will be the addition of LED lights to each end panel-improving visibility and the overall safety of our walkways. Originally, only every other end panel included an aisle light. The end panels are original to the theater, and have not been touched since 1996, when they were repainted for the first time since they were installed in 1929.
LYRIC OPERA CHICAGO VEW FROM SEC E SERIES
The gilded end panels were carefully removed from each aisle seat and shipped to Series Seating’s facility in North Carolina, where they were powder coated and modified to fit our new seats. It also hired additional cleaning staff to continually sanitize its facilities, and implemented new employee health and safety protocols, including virus testing.Īs soon as we received word that our shipment of seats was on its way to Chicago, IATSE Local 2 stagehands began removing the old seats from the main floor and balconies of the Ardis Krainik Theatre. During this time, we worked together to implement our jointly developed contingency plans, initiating new safety procedures and manufacturing-operation changes. Once work was allowed, the production facilities ran two full, socially distanced production shifts. Their facility, located outside Bogotá, Colombia, produces zero pollution and virtually no waste.Īs a result of a government-mandated shutdown due to rising infection rates of COVID-19, our seating vendor stopped all production on our seats from March 24 to April 13.
Series Seating also sets the bar for environmentally responsible manufacturing.
The seat provides a molded foam back that offers subtle lumbar support, an ergonomically pleasing design for maximum comfort, and a patented silent seat gravity lift system that is engineered for quiet open and close. The project was in a constant state of flux from March 13 through June 15, as we made adjustments to our construction and work schedules as well as to our site safety plans in accordance with city and state mandates.Īfter a long research process, we ultimately selected a state-of-the-art seat design with outstanding aesthetics, acoustic characteristics, and comfort made by Series Seating. However, when the realities of COVID-19 came crashing down last spring, we were forced to develop multiple contingency plans to ensure the project's continuation while also protecting the health of everyone involved. Renovations were originally set to begin on June 30, immediately following the final performance of 42nd Street, and conclude just before Opening Night of our 2020/21 Season in September.
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