Second City Training Center Announces Design for Expansion

The Second City, Inc, is pleased to unveil the design of their new expansion space on the second floor of Piper's Alley (230 W North Ave). The new lease adds 25,000 square feet to The Second City Training Center's current 20,300 square feet of space nearly doubling the school's current footprint. In total, The Second City will occupy nearly 75,000 square feet in Chicago's Old Town. Programming in this new space will begin January 2016.

Designed by WilliamsCraig Inc. and Barker Nestor Architecture and Design, the space will include:

• 1959, a new bar and restaurant featuring small, shareable plates and a seasonal-based menu
• The Harold Ramis Screening Room featuring state of the art projection system and 50 seats
• A Sound Stage with green cyclorama wall, lighting system and advanced acoustic soundproofing
• Two 60-70 seat cabaret theaters
• Bleachers open for students to meet, relax and work between classes as well as provide space for large public events and presentations
• Communal workspace with workstations, access to archive materials, and power accessibility, as well as private study carrels for group meetings
• Seven studio classrooms for improv, acting and writing classes

"Our designers and training center team have focused on creating a warm and inviting campus for our students and teachers," stated Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer for The Second City, Inc. "It's important for this space to not only provide additional classroom space, but to also allow a space that serves and supports our community."

The expansion is in response to the Training Center's desire to launch new and progressive programming while maintaining a high teacher to student ratio and enhancing the overall student experience.

"This design is influenced from the feedback of our community - students and teachers," says Kerry Sheehan, President of The Second City Training Centers & Education Programs. "The expansion allows us to better serve our core programs in improvisation and writing, while also expanding our new programs such as digital media and advanced courses for our professional students."

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