November 4, 2010
Jewelers Row project to receive Statewide Preservation Award
Press Release
by James Peters, President of Landmarks Illinois
Chicago, Ill. – On Saturday, October 23, the Haskell-Barker-Atwater Buildings will be one of nine historic sites honored by Landmarks Illinois as part of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. This 16th-annual event honors individuals, organizations and projects throughout the state that represent excellence in historic preservation.
“These award-winning projects area truly the best of the best,” said Jim Peters, President of Landmarks Illinois. “They show how historic buildings can be saved in a variety of economically successful ways—by owners and communities committed to protecting their architectural heritage.”
The Haskell-Barker-Atwater buildings are located on Wabash Avenue in Chicago’s Jewelers Row Historic District. Built in the late 1870s, they are some of the few remaining structures in the Loop constructed immediately after the Great Fire. The storefronts on the three buildings had been altered many times over the last century, including the addition of ornament designed by Louis Sullivan in 1896. These buildings had been threatened with demolition in 1996, as one of Chicago’s “pending” landmarks—which led to their listing among Landmarks Illinois’ “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places.”
After being protected by local landmark designation, a new owner, Joseph Freed and Associates, LLC, decided to restore all three buildings to their 19th-century appearance. Using historic photographs and analysis, the buildings’ cast iron storefronts were restored, including the discovery of a previously-undocumented 1903 Sullivan ornament.
After extensive restoration of the exterior, including reconstructing the Atwater’s lost limestone cornice, the buildings were completed in 2009 and are re-fitted to house new retail. The work is part of a larger project to restore the Sullivan Center, formerly the Carson Pirie Scott building on State Street.
The rediscovery of a “lost” Sullivan façade on the Barker building demonstrates the possibility for surprise in preservation work—even for well-documented historic structures in Chicago’s Loop. “The architects went above and beyond the call of duty in restoring these post-Chicago Fire gems,” the awards jury said. “It was wonderful to see the unknown Sullivan façade.”
Other award winners around the state were:
Buckingham Building, Chicago—Adaptive Use
Chautauqua Pavilion, Pana—Restoration
Harlan Hall, Marshall—Rehabilitation
Carolyn Oxtoby, Springfield—Lifetime Achievement
Polo Historical Society, Polo—Leadership
Preservation Summer, Carbondale—Project of the Year, Education
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Quincy—Reconstruction
University Commons, Chicago—President’s Awards, Adaptive Use
Since 1994, Landmarks Illinois has been assisted by a generous grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to honor those whose work demonstrates a commitment to excellence in historic preservation and inspire others to take action to preserve, protect and promote historic resources throughout Illinois.
The award itself is a small-scale replica of the entrance arch and a portion of the Trading Room from Louis Sullivan’s Chicago Stock Exchange building, which was demolished in 1972. The fight to save this important part of Chicago’s built environment led to the founding of Landmarks Illinois in 1971. In addition, winners receive a $500 cash award.
The awards ceremony will be held on October 23, from 4:30—7:30 P.M. at The Chicago Club and is open to the public. Tickets are available at $40 for members and $50 for non-members. To make a reservation, contact Landmarks Illinois at 312-922-1742.
Landmarks Illinois would like to thank the members of this year’s awards jury for generously donating their time and expertise: Michael Allen, Preservation Research Office, St. Louis; Jean Follett, Historic Preservation Consultant, Hinsdale; Thom Greene, Greene & Proppe Design, Chicago; Marty Harper, Leo Burnett, Chicago; Karla Kaulfuss, Historic Preservation Planner, Geneva; and Hank Norris, Brinkoetter & Associates Realtors, Decatur.
For more information about the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards, visit www.Landmarks.org. Images of all winning projects are available from our press room at http://www.landmarks.org/image_library.htm.
