HGA Designs New Home for TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago’s Uptown Neighborhood

Adaptive reuse of a historic warehouse creates a performance venue that doubles seating capacity, invites public engagement, and enhances Uptown’s cultural corridor

HGA’s national Arts + Culture studio celebrates the completion of TimeLine Theatre Company’s (TimeLine) new home in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Recognized for its collaborative engagement with arts organizations, the TimeLine project demonstrates how design can strengthen cultural institutions and the communities they serve.

For nearly 30 years, TimeLine has engaged audiences across Chicago with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. HGA’s design advances that legacy, creating a contemporary performance venue that reflects Uptown’s rich theatrical history and supports evolving production needs.

Located at 5035 North Broadway adjacent to the newly reopened Argyle Red Line station, the 33,600-square-foot project combines new construction with the adaptive reuse of a historic 1910s W.C. Reebie & Brother warehouse. The result is a dynamic, welcoming destination for audiences, artists and the surrounding neighborhood, reinforcing the theatre’s role as a civic leader within Uptown and the broader community.

“Though we’ve spent so many years striving to build a home of our own, constructing bricks and mortar was never our only goal,” TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers said. “Expanding our impact was and remains as the goal. Elevating our mission is the goal. Uplifting the work of remarkable artists is the goal. Making a difference in the lives of a younger generation and being a meaningful community partner in Uptown is the goal. We’re beyond grateful for the partnership with HGA that has made realizing those goals a reality.”

“Our new home is more than a theatre; it’s a place where the community can gather, learn, and be inspired,” said TimeLine Executive Director Mica Cole. “HGA’s design preserves the intimacy of our productions while opening the doors wider than ever, allowing neighbors, students, and audiences from across the region to engage with the arts in new ways.”

Architecture Rooted in Context

The building’s architecture draws artfully from its context, evoking the character and scale of Uptown’s historic theatres—referred to as the neighborhood’s “Grand Dames”—while reinterpreting their presence through a contemporary industrial vocabulary. Vertical massing, with a transparent facade revealing three levels of light-filled program space, establishes a strong civic presence along North Broadway, juxtaposed with precast concrete panels that integrate structure, insulation and acoustic separation to support a durable, high-performing building envelope.

A vertical swath of glass curtain wall incorporates a bird-safe frit pattern, while a projecting, vitrine-like bay window at the lobby stairs animates the pedestrian experience. At street level, a welcoming storefront framed by a canopy and vertical blade signage signals an open, accessible cultural destination.

Flexible Performance Designed for Intimacy

At the heart of the project is the new performance space paired with an immersive gallery, replacing TimeLine’s previous home in a 99-seat rented space in Lakeview East, with a flexible black-box venue with capacity for up to 250 people. While the scale has grown significantly, the design carefully preserves the intimacy that has long defined the company’s productions.

A re-configurable seating system enables multiple staging arrangements and evolving production needs, maintaining close connections between performers and audience while accommodating a broader range of artistic approaches. Immersive gallery spaces extend the theatrical experience beyond the stage, engaging audiences with a diversity of media and content in dialogue with the production.

The theatre is equipped with integrated rigging infrastructure and advanced acoustic isolation systems, including strategies to mitigate noise from the adjacent CTA Red Line, ensuring high-performance sound quality and flexibility.

Backstage, a central green room, or “living room,” for staff, artists and collaborators anchors a rich collection of production spaces, supporting collaboration and the creative exchange that underpins TimeLine’s intimate, ensemble-driven productions.

A Theatre for Community, Connection and Exchange

Reflecting TimeLine’s emphasis on community and accessibility, the design of the entry sequence departs from the formal box office as a point of control with a transparent storefront and welcoming hospitality counter summoning visitors.

Public-facing spaces are organized as a series of light-filled, three-story volumes that encourage community engagement. A street-level café with outdoor patio, exhibit galleries and a flexible education and community room support a range of activities from neighborhood meetings and lectures to informal gatherings. A glass-walled rehearsal room visible from the street offers glimpses into the creative process, reinforcing the theatre’s civic presence along North Broadway. Intimate seating areas throughout foster informal social connections, and a vitrine-like bay window at the lobby stairs animates the pedestrian experience. All of this encourages audiences to come early and stay late for a unique night out at the theatre, or perhaps just visit to hang out, work, or socialize.

“TimeLine’s new home draws design inspiration from Uptown’s historic theatres,” said Nat Madson, design principal, HGA. “At the same time, the architecture strives to make TimeLine’s creative process more visible and open, offering an invitation for visitors to engage with the theatre in new ways.”

Sustainability, Equity and Long-Term Impact

The project’s sustainability strategy is centered on the adaptive reuse of a historic warehouse, reducing material consumption while preserving the character of the existing structure. Precast concrete sandwich panels integrate structure, enclosure and insulation, supporting both energy performance and acoustic control, while durable materials and energy-efficient systems contribute to long-term performance.

The design retains key elements of the original warehouse structure, including exposed brick and structural systems. Salvaged elements—including a vintage bar, light fixtures, rugs, and furniture—create continuity between past and present, celebrating the site’s history while supporting TimeLine’s mission.

Inclusivity is embedded throughout the design. Gender-neutral restrooms—among the first implemented in major Chicago performance venues—support a more welcoming environment for patrons, while a dedicated wellness room accommodates a range of accessibility needs. Public-facing spaces are designed to feel open and accessible, defining the theatre as a shared community resource.

Looking ahead, the adjacent southern lot provides opportunities for future expansion, allowing the theatre to grow alongside its community. HGA’s holistic approach ensures the project will remain a cultural and civic resource, supporting TimeLine’s educational and artistic mission.

About HGA

HGA is a national interdisciplinary design firm committed to making a positive, lasting impact for clients and communities through research-based, holistic solutions. HGA believes that great design requires a sense of curiosity—forming deep insight into clients, their contexts, and the human condition. The firm is a collective of over 1,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, planners, researchers, and strategists. The practice spans multiple markets, including Science + Technology, Workplace, Arts + Culture, Education, Government, Healthcare, Energy + Infrastructure, and Community + Live. Visit hga.com or follow on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About TimeLine Theatre Company



TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. As it celebrates its milestone 29th season, TimeLine has presented 98 productions, including 16 world premieres and 45 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program and TimeLine South summer arts program, which bring the company’s mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools and beyond. Recipient of the Alford- Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 64 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers, Executive Director Mica Cole, and Board President Thaddeus J. Malik. For more information, visit timelinetheatre.com, or Facebook or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre on both platforms).

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HGA Design Team

HGA’s national Arts and Culture practice is a creative and collaborative team who uses their expertise and passion for the arts to design beautiful, sustainable, and equitable environments.

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