Great Repurposed Buildings in Chicago
As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, structures and buildings must evolve with the times or face destruction. With initiatives like Building Reuse and historical landmark preservation, owners and developers are finding it easier to refurbish and repurpose buildings to suit residents and the public at large. Chicago has a wealth of historical structures that have ebbed and flowed with the times and, while untold numbers have fallen, many remain and are nearly unrecognizable from their original form and purpose.
Essanay Film Studios/ St. Augustine College —Uptown
By far one of the most interesting backstories in the city is that of St. Augustine College. Currently located at 1333–45 W. Argyle Street, the college was the first bilingual higher education institution in Illinois, which is a legacy in itself. Since 1980, St. Augustine has been a place of higher learning but before then, this building was a series of studios, the first being The Essanay Film Studios. Essanay is the phonetic of "S” and “A", which are the initials of the founders George K. Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson. It opened its doors in 1908 after relocating from Wells Street. Originally cutting costs by casting their then-janitor, the studio used their profits to persuade Charlie Chaplin to switch to their production company. It was at this studio that the famous Tramp character was born. In 1915 the studio churned out 14 short comedic films, which further established Chaplin as a comedic master and created the foundation of his legacy. In the following decades, the location became the home of a few other studios run by Anderson, Essanay’s cofounder, which never replicated the popularity of Essanay. As it was in decline, the studio was given to a non-profit television corporation, which was able to turn a profit by selling it. It was subsequently a rental space before St. Augustine moved in.
Cornelia Arts Building – Roscoe Village
A more exciting site rebirth is the Cornelia Art Building. Originally constructed in 1910, it had its start as an ice block house that had large open spaces for breaking down huge blocks of ice before being delivered to consumers. A whole section of the building was for horse stables as they were still using horse-drawn vehicles at the time. Over the years, it was the industrial space for a clay distribution company, a piping company, and even a company that manufactured aircraft parts. In 1986, however, ownership changes lead to the artistic space it is today. Initially they were loft spaces for artists, but then evolved into a more active exhibition space that predated the local Art Walks that the area is now known for.
Medinah Temple – Loop
Developed in 1912, The Medinah Temple is a colorful brick structure that has Islamic influences and patterns (specifically, it’s a prime example of Moorish Revival architecture). It was originally the stomping grounds of the Shriners and location of annual circuses. Remember Bozo the Clown? His 25th Anniversary Special was filmed there in 1986. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra also had a stint there between 1967 and the late 80s. From 1994 to 1996, James Levine moved in to conduct most of the score for Fantasia 2000. It was around the time of Fantasia's release that the temple underwent hefty overhauling. The facade was restored and the interior was completely torn out and redone. And in good repurposing fashion, it became a retail space -- it’s currently home to Bloomingdale's.
Spiegel Catalog/ Bridgeport Art Center – Bridgeport
Another great art space that has found a home in a repurposed building is the Bridgeport Art Center. Bridgeport Art Center occupies a large brick building that is more stylized than traditional Chicago factory floor plans. It has wide, expansive interiors that cater to exhibitions and events with an impressive amount of natural light. Outside, it has brick arcades that line a covered area that runs along the main hall, seamlessly blending the indoors with the outdoors. This Art Center is home to residency programs and artist studios year-round while featuring two main galleries that matriculate all kinds of works. Formerly, the building was the headquarters of the Spiegel Catalog, a women's apparel and accessory catalog. Originally founded in 1865, the location on 35th Street wasn't occupied by Spiegel until after the turn of the century. Spiegel has an incredible past that is checkered with the most dramatic rises and falls a major company could face. They are known best for introducing the archetypical toy, the teddy bear, to America as well as pioneering the consumer credit model. Spiegel has evolved in many ways over the course of its existence and is still around today. In 2016, they made headlines by being the first fashion catalog to feature a transgender model on its cover.
Union Park Hotel/ Viceroy Hotel/ Harvest Commons —West Loop
An uplifting story of rebirth is that of the address that currently belongs to Harvest Commons. Originally the Union Park Hotel, this building opened its doors in 1929 and offered affordable housing for singles and couples during the Great Depression. It sports a refined Art Deco façade that is typical of buildings from its time. The hotel held strong until the 1960s when it changed ownership and became the Viceroy Hotel. The hotel experienced the same decline the city experienced during the collapse of the Golden Era of postwar economic bliss. The city acquired the building in 2006, citing "drug use" and "illegal activity" as its reasons, and repurposed it into a facility that positively contributed to the neighborhood. The Department of Housing and Development tapped Heartland Housing of Chicago and the First Baptist Congressional Church to spearhead the renovation. Since its makeover, it's become a residence for economic rehabilitation that has helped countless individuals step out of poverty and have a clean, reliable home. Harvest Commons also offers supplemental programs such as health-conscious cooking classes and other culinary portfolio staples to help residents develop skills that not only aid in personal wellness, but also gives them a leg up on entering the culinary workforce.
Trenchermen Restaurant -- Wicker Park
Currently the highly acclaimed Trenchermen Restaurant, this building was once where Russian immigrants sweated and bathed while enjoying a beer or a bowl of borscht. Built in the 1920s, the Luxor Russian Bath House was where the common man escaped the toils of a labor-filled day. Good drink and conversation is a tradition on this site that has incidentally carried over to its current form, even though the in-between period was a little rough. It was a hotel of ill-repute for a while and when the 1990s hit, it became a boarded-up eyesore. Its high ranking in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey and interested investors kept it from meeting its demise and, in 2012, it became Trenchermen. It's a great environment for a cocktail and some expertly crafted food with a dynamic rotating menu. The Trench Double Burger is a good standby of theirs that pairs perfectly with the classic interior, still reminiscent of the relaxing bathhouse it once was.