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Dive brief:
- Chicago-based McHugh Construction has completed a $30 million facelift restoration of the city’s nearly century-old Ramova Theater, according to a Feb. 2 press release shared with Construction Dive.
- For more than two years, McHugh worked with Chicago-based project architect O’Riley Office, developer Baum Revision and historic preservation specialists to revitalize the building, which had suffered severe structural and water damage since of its closure in 1985, according to the statement.
- The project team converted the former single-screen complex into a concert hall for 1,800 people. In addition, McHugh built a space for Other Half Brewing, an independent craft brewery and taproom; Ramova Grill, an 18-seat dining room; and Ramova Loft, a 200-person event space on the second floor.
Diving knowledge:
The Ramova Theater originally opened in 1929 and was the jewel of the Bridgeport neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, according to the release, with its neon red marquee and Spanish-inspired architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, the same year McHugh and the project team began renovating the property.
“When we first got to the site, it was like a time capsule, with the locker still in place, even with the same curtains from the day it closed,” said Andrew Totten, vice president of McHugh Construction , in the statement. “But it was in a state of disrepair after years of neglect.”
McHugh revived identifying markers such as pale yellow stucco-style walls, red-notched arches and columns, decorative bronze wrought-iron windows and balconies, a tiled roofline of ‘clay and a midnight blue roof, according to the release. The contractor took molds of the remaining terracotta pieces and had them redone.
The recently renovated concert space of the Ramova Theatre.
Courtesy of Clayton Hauck
McHugh also removed the theater’s original seating to make way for a 22,000-square-foot barrier-free, multi-level concrete floor in front of the stage.
McHugh and his teams of subcontractors drew on decades of experience in historic restoration to conceal state-of-the-art HVAC, electrical, sound and fire protection systems within the early 20th century fabric of the theater building. The builder also used its in-house structural engineering team, McHugh Engineering Group, to gain expertise in structural modifications and additions to historic and complex sites.
The renovated Ramova Theater reopened its doors on December 31 with a live performance of 1920s-themed music and dance for the new year.
Correction: O’Riley Office is based in Chicago and the project developer is Baum Revision.
