Auditorium Building, Commercial building in Chicago, US
The Auditorium Building is a multistory structure in Chicago that houses theater halls, hotel rooms, and university spaces under one roof. The construction uses steel and concrete to create wide interior spaces that avoid obstructive columns and allow for large stages and seating areas.
Architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler designed the building in the late 1880s and completed it in 1889, applying new techniques in high-rise construction and stage engineering. Later, Roosevelt University took over large parts of the complex to establish classrooms and offices, while the theater hall continued to be used for performances.
The name comes from the time when the building served mainly as a performance venue, and today that hall remains a place for concerts and shows used by students and visitors alike. The interiors display elaborate decorations and arches typical of the late 19th century, giving the space a ceremonial feel.
Visitors can explore the complex during organized tours that pass through the main rooms and the theater. The central Chicago location makes access by public transit straightforward, and the campus is open during weekday daytime hours.
The large windows on the outer facade allow natural light to reach deep into the interior spaces, creating bright work and gathering zones even without artificial lighting. This combination of performance hall, hotel rooms, and university use under one roof was uncommon for the time and showed a new way to connect different functions spatially.
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