Ravinia Festival unveils renovated and newly named Hunter Pavilion

When the Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns in July to its longtime summer home, the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, for its 90th anniversary residency, it will be performing on the completely renovated stage of the newly named Hunter Pavilion.

The Pavilion, Ravinia’s largest theater, has received a new stage, seats and lighting, along with enhanced acoustics and improved production capabilities as part of Ravinia’s $75 million “Setting the Stages” campaign. Chicago-based Lohan Architecture designed the Pavilion’s renovation.

Under the multi-year “Setting the Stages,” the 36-acre park and its venues, such as the Sandra K. Crown Theater, historic Martin Theatre, Bennett Gordon Hall and the Carousel Stage, will be renovated and upgraded through 2029 (when Ravinia will celebrate its 125th anniversary) and beyond.

The transformed main theater has been named the Hunter Pavilion, honoring Maxine and Thomas B. Hunter III, for their leadership gift of $10 million from the Hunter Family Foundation.

“Ravinia has always been a cherished part of my family’s story,” said Bill Hunter of the Hunter Family Foundation. “Growing up, we often went there with my parents, Maxine and Thomas, my grandmother and our extended family, sharing picnics under the canopy of trees, surrounded by beautiful music and nature.

“For us, Ravinia represents the perfect intersection of music, art and nature — a place to relax, be inspired and build community. This gift is about ensuring that future generations can enjoy that same magic.”

Ravinia was established in 1904 as an upscale amusement park to promote the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad. Ravinia in its present form dates to 1936 and is now the oldest outdoor U.S. music festival. “For more than a century, Ravinia has been a cherished destination for generations of artists and audiences from our region and around the world,″ said Ravinia president and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon. “For many, the Pavilion is their first introduction to Ravinia, and it hosts a wide range of events, from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s annual residency and shows by legendary pop and jazz artists.”

Haydon called the Pavilion renovation “the first of many exciting changes to come in the park. It is essential to securing Ravinia’s future. Our goal is to make every part of Ravinia more welcoming, comfortable and exciting, while keeping us at the forefront of artistic presentation and programming for generations to come.”

Ravinia’s renovated and redesigned back-of-house areas have been named The Negaunee Foundation Artist Center after a $21-million gift from The Negaunee Foundation.

“As we embark on this exciting renewal of one of America’s great cultural treasures, I’m deeply grateful to the Hunter Family Foundation, The Negaunee Foundation and those early donors of the ‘Setting the Stages’ campaign for demonstrating such incredible support for Ravinia," said Christopher J. Klein, a life trustee and past chair of Ravinia’s board. “With over $50 million raised to date, we’re creating a Ravinia that honors our past while enhancing the Ravinia experience. 

“The renovation of the Pavilion is a true awakening, creating a vibrant, fresh space that feels completely transformed. Longtime patrons will experience a sense of renewal as this venue brings new energy and excitement to every performance.”

Marin Alsop, Ravinia’s chief conductor, related that she and some CSO musicians shared ideas for the Pavilion’s rebuild. “Ravinia is a truly special place for all of us. It is a privilege to make music at the highest level in such a gorgeous, nature-filled setting. When it came to redesigning the Pavilion, a few Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians and I shared ideas to improve acoustics and deepen the connection between performers and the audience, all while preserving the charm and history that make Ravinia unique.”

The Hunter Pavilion renovations have enhanced the venue’s production and presentation capabilities, including a deeper stage; a new acoustic shell for orchestral performances; a state-of-the-art audio system; a robust concert lighting system, along with new lighting throughout the Pavilion; modernized production booths, and a modern video production room, as well as new audience seats (with cupholders) and increased accessibility.

The Negaunee Foundation Artist Center includes improvements such as a more welcoming artists’ entrance; updated dressing rooms and artist areas; two new warm-up rooms for musicians; a warm-up room that doubles as a media production studio for radio and TV broadcasts; renovated offices for the production department and stagehands, and an expanded loading area.

Future phases of renovation consist of a new concert stage for the Sandra K. Crown Theater; structural restoration and enhanced production capabilities for the historic Martin Theatre, the only original structure at Ravinia, dating to the park’s opening in 1904; a new performance stage to replace the modified Carousel Stage, and updating of the production, aesthetics and audience areas of Bennett Gordon Hall.

All of the redesign work has been rooted in Ravinia’s early 20th-century Prairie School architecture. “The design of the Pavilion renovation is an endeavor of both continuity and transformation undertaken while introducing extensive needed updates," said Michael C. Barnes, principal architect of Lohan Architecture. “By honoring the architectural legacy of Ravinia’s past while embracing the present, we’ve developed a holistic design that speaks to the history of the park and its evolving story, while providing an enriched and inspiring experience for performers and audiences alike. 

“The introduction of wood, a material deeply rooted in Ravinia’s early construction, along with new geometric patterns inspired by the iconic Martin Theatre windows, connects the Pavilion to both its natural setting and the broader architectural history of the festival grounds.”

For the design team, a guiding theme was music. “Music stirs passion, evokes memories and creates lasting connections,″ Barnes said. “So being part of this project, in a place where people gather to create new memories or relive cherished ones through music, is a privilege that makes the Pavilion renovation a truly special project.”