J&J Arnaco Monroe Building Rehabilitation

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Awards

  • Landmarks Illinois' Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards, Restoration Project of the Year
  • Chicago Architecture Foundation Patron of the Year Award
    Friends of Downtown Best Historic Renovation Project

Built in 1912, as one of Chicago’s most distinguished office buildings, the Monroe Building had aged and faced being converted into a condominium and parking facility. When the current owners purchased the building, they saw the potential of this architectural gem and committed to a complete renovation and restoration of the building on a scale rarely attempted.
 

The historic elements of the Romanesque building, including the façade, were repaired or restored to the highest of preservation standards. The roof was restored to its original profiles and re-clad with custom tiles manufactured by the original manufacturer. The resulting project combines the best elements of meticulous restoration with modernization to meet the demands of a building built for the future.