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Majestic Building/Bank of America Theater after rehabilitation
Bank of America Theater interior after rehabilitation
 Bank of America Theater lobby after rehabilitation |
Arts and Entertainment Venue Rehabilitation
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LOCATION |
Chicago, Illinois |
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DATE BUILT |
1906 |
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DEVELOPER |
Shubert Hotel Associates |
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COMPLETION DATE |
2006 |
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TOTAL REHABILITATION COSTS |
$22 million (theater and hotel project) |
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FEDERAL HISTORIC TAX CREDITS |
Approximately $640,000 |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The 20-story Majestic Building, designed by Edmund R. Krause, was the tallest building in Chicago at the time of its completion in 1906. Behind a richly ornamented terra cotta façade, the building housed a 2,000-seat theater topped by an office tower. MacRostie Historic Advisors, in partnership with Baldwin Historic Properties, advised the owners in the Majestic's 2006 rehabilitation, which restored its theater as the Bank of America Theatre, a modern Broadway show venue, and its office tower as a Hampton Inn Hotel.
The project involved the meticulous restoration of ornate theater lobby and vestibule details previously hidden by dropped ceilings. In the auditorium space, plaster and decorative details were restored or replicated and a new mechanical system installed. New theater seats were installed, aisles reconfigured, and the slope of the orchestra level adjusted for improved site lines. On the exterior, a new theater marquee was installed and over 1,400 terra cotta panels were recast to restore the original design of the lively façade.
The completed project was recognized in 2006 with a Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence following the Majestic Building's designation as a Chicago Landmark in 2005.