"Have you moved yet?"

Our first building sign !

That's the question Chicago Equity members keep asking the Central Regional staff, as excitement about our new home in Chicago continues to build.

The answer, for the moment, is "Not yet-but soon!"

The four-story building at 557 W. Randolph in the burgeoning West Loop area, purchased last year, is in the closing stages of its rehab and refurbishment and its future shape is apparent. Equity will occupy 2½ floors of the building:

• The first floor will house an enlarged and soundproofed Audition/Member Center, including a sprung floor in the room itself, an enlarged waiting area which will also house the Lonergan Library, 2 soundproofed warm-up rooms, and a special area to display a Gypsy Robe. The rest of the first floor is scheduled to house a branch of the Actors' Federal Credit Union (including an ATM!) and building management.

• The second floor will be rented out in its entirety to one or more occupants "to be named later."
  
  

  AEA's new location at 557 West Randolph

• The third floor will be Equity's public area, with Reception, Membership and Member Services offices, and meeting rooms and areas of varying sizes to accommodate everything from large committees and group meetings to a one-on-one between a Member and Staffer comfortably. It will also house the Office Manager, Bonding Director, Mailroom, and an expanded IT server area.

• The fourth floor will be home to the Central Regional Director, and all the Business Reps and Contract Associates, as well as a file area.

• There is also a large basement that will be used for archival storage and is being considered as the home for archival material now occupying rented space in New York.

Green practices are being used whenever and wherever possible. New windows are being "punched" into the building to admit more natural light, and an exciting architectural feature will be multiple skylights and "light shaft" between the third and fourth floors. Furniture from the current office will be re-used with some new additions and replacements. Unfortunately, this means that the actual move will require closing the Chicago office for a few days as phones, computers, etc. are relocated. Ample notice will be given to our Members so they are inconvenienced as little as possible. We promise to keep the service interruption as short as we possibly can, and are comfortable knowing that if we need them to, the New York and Los Angeles offices will "cover" for us during that time.

Earlier this summer, CRB and staff members toured the construction site

Save The Date

Monday, October 11, 2010
Members Only "Sneak Preview" of the new Actors' Equity Building
Tours begin at 6 pm - Bring your Equtiy card
Membership Meeting starts at 7 pm
557 West Randolph St, Chicago, IL

Grand Opening Celebration
Monday, November 1, 2010

Dates may change due to factors beyond our control...but we sure hope not!