A nearly century-old Chicago icon, The Morton Salt Warehouse complex sat abandoned for years before it was converted into The Salt Shed, a 30,000 SF modern concert venue. The adaptive re-use of this landmark from storehouse to performance space presented a number of challenges that required a team of experts to resolve. Working closely with HBRA Architects and Blue Star Properties, Schuler Shook was a valuable resource for the complex’s 3,800 capacity indoor concert venue: reviewing plans for the stage and backstage areas, planning for special stage and extension platforms, and providing loading information for the stage rigging and solutions for more effective musician load-ins and load-outs.
The Salt Shed - From Warehouse to Concert Venue
News – June 2023
A great concert venue is more than just a building – it’s an experience. Attentive planning and inspired architectural lighting were important to The Salt Shed’s successful re-imagining of a significant part of Chicago’s built history.
The former Morton Salt complex and warehouse [is] an experience in and of itself.”
One of the client’s main goals throughout redevelopment was retaining the integrity of the building’s rich history. The signature of The Salt Shed is its architecture, and the lighting design celebrates the landmark’s story, with upward illumination showcasing the support beams, trusses, and other industrial remnants throughout the space. Through thoughtful placement of fixtures, the lighting both emphasizes the open quality of the space and creates an intimate atmosphere for concertgoers.
Opposite the stage, a two-tiered 19-row seating area – complete with plush seats and reminiscent of grandstand layouts in movie theaters – provides dead-ahead views. It also grants a comfort absent from most mid-sized venues: the opportunity to watch a show without having to stand or peer over a mass of shoulders and heads.”
In addition to the general admission floor seen in many mid-sized touring music venues, The Salt Shed also contains a multi-level grandstand seating area. Schuler Shook and HBRA Architects conducted a seating design and sightline analysis to provide the best options for the needs of the space. Sizable access routes, clearly lit paths, and equitably placed accessible seating with easy access ramps were a priority in the design and successfully implemented.
The Schuler Shook team is honored to have played a part in bringing a modern concert venue to life by repurposing a beloved Chicago icon.