The first pre-cast concrete panels have been erected for the forthcoming TimeLine Theatre at 5035 North Broadway in Uptown. General Contractor Bulley Andrews began the installation work in mid-March at the front of the site. As progress proceeds, the newly-built portion will to connect to the five-story remainder of the former W. C. Reebie and Brother storage building.
Rendering of the new façade provided by TimeLine Theatre
Photo by Daniel Schell
According to a press release from TimeLine, the panels are being trucked to Chicago from a fabricating site in Wisconsin. The process is expected to take about four weeks to complete. The concrete work follows the drilling and filling of more than three dozens caissons to support the new theater, as well as other foundation work.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The new TimeLine Theatre new will include a lobby café and bar, a 250-seat flexible black box theatre, and exhibit galleries. Backstage, in the remnants of the old building, will be several areas tailored for collaboration and creation, including a rehearsal room, design and production studios, and staff offices to fully support artists, cast, and crew in their work. The company’s Living History program will also have dedicated space for its engagement with students, with that space also available for community meetings and events.
What’s left of the former W. C. Reebie and Brother storage building can be seen in the background. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
This is all pre-cast concrete. Photo by Daniel Schell
The City of Chicago issued a demolition permit for the 1920-built, George Kingsley-designed Reebie building on August 7, 2024. TimeLine Theatre purchased the building in 2018, and had since been imagining ways to create their new home within its walls. Architecture firm HGA was enlisted to design a new home, initially envisioning a facility that would have reimagined the façade of the 100-year-old warehouse. Those early iterations included connecting the Reebie building to a new structure to be built on the vacant lot next door, at 5033 North Broadway, and a four-story addition at the rear of the existing building. But complications arose, including the CTA’s Red/Purple Line reconstruction (they have rights to the lot at 5033) and concerns about the structural integrity of the Reebie building and its ability to support the desired changes for the new theater. Those factors led to the plans for the new addition to the partially demolished structure that are now being carried out.
The former W. C. Reebie and Brother storage building. Built 1920, demolished 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
October 2024 demolition. Photo by Daniel Schell
October 2024 demolition. Photo by Daniel Schell
Opening of the new TimeLine Theatre Company is planned for 2026.
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It’s a real bummer that we gave this project TIF money to tear down a historic facade. I hope it helps the neighborhood and its businesses, but I feel like trying to get this historic building converted into residences would’ve better served the whole Argyle area.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the old facade was preserved in one way or another – but, to be honest, it wasn’t not really a beauty worth saving.
I prefer the current solution.
I’m all for historic preservation, but aside from the facade being old I fail to see the architectural significance.
Didn’t know it was possible to manufacture major concrete elements offsite instead of pouring everything in place. Lots of challenges with this project but it looks like it will be a very positive addition to this block/neighborhood. Timeline has been a theater stalwart for decades and this permanent home would be very welcome.
This is how almost all of those monstrous warehouses can get built in what seems like a month’s time.
My professor in college basically helped perfect the process. Big box stores use the technique too. Only issue, they are not kind to openings. Each piece is a block. That’s why windows are very minimal in such stores. But the pieces can be casted to enormous proportions. The only limit is the ability to transfer such blocks.
I liked the historic facade as well. That said, I’m not sure why they saved any of this building if they weren’t going to keep the front portion. It’s like rebuilding an old pickup truck and throwing out everything except the bed and the rear bumper.