eta Creative Arts Foundation, Inc.
Chicago (Grand Crossing)
18,000 sf
eta Creative Arts Foundation, Inc. (eta), a leading African American cultural performing arts institution on Chicago’s South Side, partnered with IFF and Eckenhoff Saunders to renovate and expand its longstanding home, creating a vibrant destination that supports artistic expression, education, and community engagement. The project is designed to inspire the next generation of performers while strengthening eta’s role as a cultural cornerstone for Chicago’s South Side.
The project includes a comprehensive renovation of the existing theatre and building, featuring enhanced acoustics and theatrical lighting, a reimagined lobby, ADA-compliant restroom upgrades, renovated classrooms, improvements to the gallery café and basement spaces, and upgrades throughout the facility. A new addition will house a state-of-the-art recording studio and flexible program spaces, expanding opportunities for performance, education, collaboration, and creative development. The project also includes a new parking lot across the street, improving accessibility and convenience for patrons, students, staff, and visitors.