In the 10 years that the ALO has been in town (a mere nanosecond in the world of opera), the company has engendered such enthusiasm that it has become a driving force in the revamping of the Palmer Auditorium into the Long Center for the Performing Arts. But while that structure is still a few years from being a reality, the Lyric Opera has opened the doors of its very own space with offices, rehearsal halls, and classrooms for musicians throughout the community. The incorporation of theatrical elements - the use of rich, dramatic colors (muted perhaps but still striking), set pieces in the foyer and theatrically inspired artwork in the first-floor hallway, the sidewalk nod to building patrons in bricks resembling ticket stubs - by building designers Lake|Flato also add to the appeal of the space and make it cause for celebration.
