Originally established as an amusement park in 1904, the grounds of the Ravinia Summer Music Festival were in need of restoration and renovation by the second half of the twentieth century. SOM worked closely with the Festival, reorganizing the site to accommodate new jazz, folk, pop, and opera programming, as well as planning for future growth.
Beginning with the last remaining building from the original 1904 plan, SOM restored and updated the historic Murray Theater (now the Martin). Interior and exterior architectural details were restored according to the guidelines of the local Historic Preservation Commission, while a new acoustic shell, lighting, and sound systems modernized the sound quality of the 650-seat music hall. The renovation won a number of awards, including the National Honor Award for Architecture from the AIA.
In the design for the larger grounds, SOM preserved the site’s beloved green spaces, restored its aging structures, updated amenities, minimized paved areas, and used landscaping to clarify the entrance and create better circulation within the Festival site. Landscaping and updated field lighting were extended into the parking areas. To delineate the entry zone, the plan established a pair of landmark, landscaped public-entry gatehouses leading into various natural pathways. These paths convey concert-goers across the site to the music pavilion, symphony lawn, and other performance venues, while landscaped buffers at the limits of the grounds reduce the Festival’s impact on its neighbors.
One of the key components of the Ravinia Master Plan involved the renovation of the Festival’s 3500-seat, open air music pavilion. Renovations included seating, stage, and backstage areas, while new construction added additional bathrooms. Noisy components such as refrigeration and food service equipment were relocated away from concert areas to improve the listening experience.
Back to Top