The Gage Building Façade Restoration

The Gage Building actually refers to a group of three historical buildings located at 18 to 30 South Michigan Ave. that were designed by the renowned architecture firm Holabird and Roche at the turn of the 20th century. The elaborate terra cotta façade of the northernmost building, 18 South Michigan Ave., displays the work of master architect Louis Sullivan. In 1996, these buildings were registered as Chicago landmarks.

In 2003, a structural and restoration engineering firm began a façade renovation for two buildings: the Louis Sullivan façade at 18 South Michigan Ave. and the adjoining building at 24-28 South Michigan Ave.

The team created a master plan to restore the buildings to their original prominence, and they undertook the painstaking process of removing and analyzing numerous pieces of the façade. Each piece revealed clues as to the original color and texture of the limestone, and each design was measured as accurately as possible for reproduction.

The physical restoration work began in mid-2004. Great care was taken to stabilize the fragile existing stone and only contractors and manufacturers specializing in terra cotta and limestone were selected for the work. All materials used had to comply with the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks requirements, ensuring that the replacement terra cotta pieces were in character with the original Sullivan design. A representative of the building even traveled to Orchard Park, New York, where the replacement terra cotta tiles were made, to supervise the manufacturing.

One visit to this historical gem illustrates just how successful the restoration was, and we are proud to have been involved in a project that has created a functional, modern office space while preserving a piece of Chicago's unique architectural heritage.