2024-05-04T11:49:53-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150308726/illinois-grants-26-million-to-performing-arts-revitalization-project-in-chicago-led-by-actor-harry-lennix Nathaniel Bahadursingh 2022-05-02T17:53:00-04:00 >2022-05-03T14:47:29-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/84/8435ba9a7bdfced1d4cd7b2795713192.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Harry Lennix&rsquo;s Lillian Marcie Center for the Performing Arts, a project located at 4343 S. Cottage Grove Ave. on Chicago&rsquo;s South Side and designed to aid in the renaissance of Bronzeville, will receive capital funding from the State of Illinois to the tune of $26 million, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday.</p></em><br /><br /><p>The <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/4611/chicago" target="_blank">Chicago</a>-born actor describes the project as &ldquo;the Black version of the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/155425/lincoln-center" target="_blank">Lincoln Center</a>.&rdquo; It will house a 350-seat multi-level auditorium, flexible performance stage, a second smaller 100-seat theater, and related areas, such as rehearsal spaces, dressing rooms, offices, and outdoor gathering spaces. The building also features a museum dedicated to Black contributions to the performing arts. The center will occupy a former warehouse, and once revitalized, will be the home of the Congo Square Theatre Company. Chicago-based firm <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/80253838/nia-architects-inc" target="_blank">Nia Architects</a> is carrying out the design.</p> <p>Lennix hopes the project will draw tourists to the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. The new facility is expected to cost approximately $80 million and is scheduled for completion in the summer or fall of 2024. </p>