A total of 14 projects, individuals and organizations were recognized for having made significant contributions to the preservation of the City’s historic buildings and places. The awards acknowledge extraordinary improvements to designated Chicago landmarks, properties within landmark districts and other projects that embody Chicago’s architectural heritage.  Each project was chosen by the Commission’s Permit Review Committee.

“We are proud of the outstanding contributions and investments made by each of these winners,” Housing and Economic Development Commissioner Andrew J. Mooney said.  “They represent a remarkable example of the dedication to restoring and revitalizing Chicago’s historic buildings and communities.”

Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (HPA) was the architect of record for the adaptive reuse of the former Steuben Club Building into Randolph Tower City Apartments, a mixed-use residential development. HPA was also the architect of the adaptive reuse of 2800 N. Milwaukee, the former Morris B. Sachs Building, into the mixed-use Hairpin Lofts project. 

For more information about the 2013 Preservation Excellence Awards, click here.

The top design prize of the evening, the Louis Sullivan Award, went to Randolph Tower in Chicago. The project successfully transformed a historic landmark into a vibrant community within the heart of Chicago’s Theater District.

“The jury recognized the daunting challenges of the rehabilitation of Randolph Tower and was impressed by its ambitious scale and complexity,” said Brandy Koch, 2013 AIA Illinois President, who convened the national jury and served as an ex officio member.

By reviving a long dormant Gothic Revival skyscraper, the project team preserved a key chapter of Chicago’s architectural history, all while overcoming complex coordination challenges and meeting an aggressive 24-month schedule.

In accepting the Sullivan Award alongside colleague George Valdez, AIA, Paul Valessandro told the audience, “This project was 13 years in the making, and getting it completed took one of the most amazing public-private partnerships ever assembled. The building was simply a disaster when we got to it, and it still amazes us for what we were able to pull out of the wreckage. Both of us will be proud of this project for the rest of our careers.”

The firm won a second award, the Crombie Taylor Honor Award, for the Hairpin Lofts And The Arts Center in Chicago, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Crombie Taylor Award recognizes a project that, through preservation and restoration, has enhanced the natural and built environments of a community

The $12 million renovation includes 7,000 square feet of retail space, an 8,000-square-foot arts center, and 28 rental lofts, with all but three units dedicated to affordable or disabled housing. Wiss Janney Elstner assisted in the exterior restoration. The already award-winning project is home to artists and families, and stands as an example of the success possible in blending mixed-income housing, historic preservation, environmental sustainability and a commitment to neighborhood revitalization and the arts.

AIA Illinois presented five Honor Awards for service and five awards for design at a banquet at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield on Friday, April 12. The national jury chose from 90 total nominations representing the best work by Illinois architects. 

To view the full article, click here.

The four-story Woodview Development will feature a unit mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments with high-quality finishes. Building amenities will include a club room, state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, demonstration kitchen, and lounge area. On-site parking for 440 vehicles will be located within a five-story parking structure and ground-level parking spaces.

A joint venture between Conor Commercial Real Estate and Ravine Park Partners is the project developer, with Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture as architect of record.

HPA’s architectural design integrates open spaces and pedestrian views of the 7.68-acre site.  The masonry façade features accents of wood siding and trim, together with expanses of windows that provide views out to the natural setting. Shade trees and landscaping will line the building perimeter. Outdoor recreation areas include a resort-style swimming pool, garden courtyards, a dog park and community garden.  The project team is targeting LEED Certification.

In a quote to the Chicago Tribune, Village Senior Planner Jeff Ryckaert said, “The reaction from the plan commission is obviously very favorable. They liked the use of the land for apartments, and thought it is a quality project by a quality team, and will help the village’s economic base.” 

To access the full article, click here. 

The lecture will detail the transformation of the vacant Morris B. Sachs Building into a “beacon of vitality” for the surrounding neighborhood, through its conversion into the multi-use Hairpin Lofts building. Mr. Alessandro and Ms. Kwon will discuss its exterior masonry restoration and interior rehabilitation using sustainable technologies, which earned the project LEED Gold certification.

Landmarks Illinois has hosted Preservation Snapshot Lectures, a series of monthly talks on preservation-related topics, at the Chicago Cultural Center since 2011.

As the largest sustainable business site in the U.S., Green Exchange offers office and showroom space to  environmentally-focused companies and organizations. The 270,000 SF project is an adaptive reuse of the former Frederick Cooper Lamp Factory in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. As the architect of record, HPA targeted LEED Platinum certification, incorporating sustainable features such as solar thermal panels, high efficiency mechanical systems, and a 13,000 SF green roof.

The award committee noted that Green Exchange is an economically and environmentally sustainable development model that meets its community’s needs. For more information about CNDA Awards, click here.