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bldg. 51 museum collaborates with decorators supply company in making limited edition of recast auditorium theater proscenium vault ventilation domes

the bldg. 51 museum is collaborating with the chicago-based decorators supply company to make a very limited edition of faithfully recreated, full scale cast plaster proscenium vault ventilation domes, original to the interior adler & sulivan-designed auditorium theater (1889), designed by louis h. sullivan and sculpted by james legge. interestingly, christian schneider (who would go on to become one of the most highly regarded terra cotta modelers, working for louis sullivan well into the 20th century) and nine others assisted legge in modeling the auditorium building's plaster ornament.

 

adler & sullivan's auditorium was one of the earliest theaters to be both heated and air conditioned, allowing it to function year round. the air intake was located south of the stage, where it was then heated or cooled in the basement before being circulated into the theaters ornamental cast plaster domes located throughout the theater. the presence of domed vents in the upper galleries as well as on the main floor supported ferdinand peck’s ideal of democracy.

during chicago’s winter months, air was drawn into the theater where it was washed with sprays of water, humidified, and forced over hot radiators before being circulated into the auditorium. in the summer months, the air cooling system required approximately fifteen tons of ice blocks delivered through massive sidewalk vault doors on a daily basis. the ice blocks were first crushed and salted before being placed in large holding vats. the air drawn in from the theater's south side intake was sprayed clean and cooled by forcing air across the vats filled with crushed ice.

a follow-up post will offer information and images covering the execution of the recast domes during a visit to decorators supply company towards the end of the week. the limited edition of domes ordered will be individually stamped and come with a booklet containing an overview of adler & sullivan's auditorium theater, biographic information on modelers james legge and christian schneider, and several images showing the step-by-step process of ventilation dome fabrication.

 

 

 

 

 



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