Some projects are an absolute delight . . . even if they take years and years to complete.

We began working on the new Goodman in 1986, when NY Mayor John Lindsay asked me to meet with Greg Mosher, then Artistic Director at the Goodman . . . John was then head of Lincoln Center Theatre seeking a new direction and new artistic leadership.

Years later Roche Shulfer, Executive Director, requested TP begin studying how their theatre in the Chicago Art Institute  might be improved. Originally built in 1927, it was modelled on the Kunstler Theatre in Munich—an early model of the 'new theatre' with frontal, one-level seating.

By the 1980's the fallacy of this "all-equal" seating had been exposed and Goodman wanted something more intimate, exciting and theatrical.

After many studies, another possibility appeared. Goodman might move to take over two derelect old theatres, the Selwyn and Harris, in the downtown area.

We created designs for two new spaces, one an ultra-modern 850-seat proscenium theatre, with a flexible stage, a single balcony and side boxes—providing more seats and greatly enhanced intimacy, together with a flexible 450-seat courtyard theatre, both set within the existing historic facades.

In 2016, sixteen years after Goodman began to operate in their new home, we were honored to receive this letter from Robert Falls, Goodman's brilliant artistic director.

Architects: Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects | DLK.

Acoustics: Talaske