Historic renovation architects in Chicago
New work for old buildings.
We restore, renovate and reuse Chicago's older buildings, keeping what they have and adding what they need.
Keep what the building has. Add what it needs.
Chicago's older buildings are full of things worth keeping: limestone fronts, brick walls, timber floors, tall windows. We start with a survey of what is sound, what is original and what is missing. New work goes where the building needs it, and it reads as today's work, not a copy of the old.
Architecture for Chicago's older buildings
Restoration
Masonry, windows, cornices and carved stone repaired with matching materials, so the building looks like itself again.
Greystone and two-flat renovation
Kitchens, stairs, light and new systems behind a limestone front, and rear additions that keep the street view intact.
Adaptive reuse
Churches, schools and warehouses reworked into homes, studios and workplaces without losing what made them worth saving.
New buildings in historic districts
Infill homes designed with the district's guidelines from the first sketch, so they sit well beside their neighbors.
Renovation and reuse projects in Chicago
Greystone two-flat
A rear addition with a new kitchen and stair, out of sight from the street.
Former warehouse
Studios on three floors, the arched windows reopened, and a glass room on the roof set back from the parapet.
Parish church
Cleaned limestone, repaired tracery and releaded windows on a west front that had lost its detail.
New house
A narrow infill house between two older neighbors, matched to their height and cornice line, in dark metal and glass.
How a project runs
Visit and survey
We walk the building with you, measure it and record what is original, sound or failing.
Options and budget
Two or three ways forward, each with a rough cost range, so you can choose with the numbers in front of you.
Landmark and permit review
If the building is a landmark or in a landmark district, exterior changes are reviewed by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks as part of the permit. We meet with its staff before we file.
Drawings
Construction drawings for the permit and for bids. In Chicago, plan-based permits need drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or engineer.
Construction
We stay on the project through construction, answer the builder's questions and check the work against the drawings.
Questions about renovating an older building in Chicago
Do I need an architect to renovate my house in Chicago?
It depends on the permit. Any project that needs a plan-based building permit requires drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. Some smaller repairs can go through the City's Easy Permit or Express Permit programs instead.
My house is in a landmark district. What gets reviewed?
The exterior. In Chicago landmark districts, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks reviews work on exterior features such as windows, doors, siding and roofing as part of the normal building permit. No separate permit is needed, and the Commission encourages a pre-permit review before you file.
How do I know if my building is a landmark?
The City's Chicago Landmarks website lists every designated landmark and landmark district. It is also worth checking the Chicago Historic Resources Survey: buildings it rates red or orange are subject to a hold of up to 90 days on demolition permits.
What is the difference between a greystone and a brownstone?
The stone. A greystone is fronted with Bedford limestone, the pale grey stone quarried in Indiana, and Chicago has roughly 30,000 of them. A brownstone is fronted with brown sandstone and is more common in New York.
Can an old building meet today's needs and keep its character?
Usually, yes. Most of the work that makes an older building comfortable, such as insulation, new wiring, plumbing and heating, happens inside the walls and floors. In landmark districts the Commission's review follows the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, which allow new work that respects the historic building.
Start a project
Tell us about the building and what you have in mind.