Patrons attending shows at Indiana Repertory Theatre next season will be welcomed by a newly renovated grand lobby, thanks to a $3 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.

Visitors to IRT's Upper Stage and Mainstage or to the Indiana Roof Ballroom still will have access to two sets of double doors on the ground floor of the 81-year-old, city-owned Indiana Theatre at 140 W. Washington St.

However, those entrances will no longer lead to separate lobbies. Instead, a common grand lobby will incorporate the space that was home to Gobo Restaurant before it closed in 2004. Rowland Design will handle renovations.

"We're not changing anything about the grand lobby that people are used to," said Steven Stolen, IRT's managing director. "What folks can expect is that we will create a public lobby at the street entrance to the building. We hope to take the beautiful elements of a historic building and bring into the new space, so we have the feel of history, but a modern treatment."

Stolen said $2.45 million will finance the lobby renovation, set to be completed in time for the Sept. 19 opening of IRT's next season with "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure." Marketing and development offices also will be renovated.

The remaining money will help IRT develop plans to launch a future capital campaign.

IRT's last lobby renovation, in 1996, also was financed with help from Lilly Endowment.