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Unity Temple: Coming Home!

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Now that the restoration is nearing an end, hard hats are no longer needed!

It’s serendipity that our congregation is exploring the theme of joy this month.

We’re filled with JOY at our return to Unity Temple!

We’re also filled with deep gratitude for our friends at United Lutheran Church, who shared their space with us for these past two years. We thank our ULC friends for their generous spirits.

Our spiritual home has been in the spotlight as it emerges from its cocoon. Many people are eager to see the restoration. The Chicago Tribune’s architecture critic, Blair Kamin, called the restoration “triumphant!”

Here’s a brief summary of some of the media coverage about our return to Unity Temple! We’ll add links here as they become available and clickable. NOTE: Some links contain video, and some sites may automatically play that video when you visit that page.

Chicago Tribune: Restoration ‘triumphant’ (05/20/2017)

Time Out Chicago: Take a look inside (05/22/2017)

CBS2 Chicago: Unity Temple reopens (05/25/2017)

Oak Leaves: Internationally iconic Unity Temple (05/26/2017)

Wednesday Journal/OakPark.com: Wright in time (06/06/2017)

Curbed Chicago: Restoration done Wright (06/07/2017)

WGN TV: Unity Temple reopens its doors (06/17/2017)

Here’s the video clip from the WGN coverage:

This video accompanied the Tribune’s coverage (link above) and featured comments from Gunny Harboe.

Another video from this spring showing the restoration process; there’s fun footage at the end showing the congregation as it filled the space at Unity Temple.

 

 

 

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Unity Temple Restoration: An Overview of the Summer and Early Fall of ’16

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A lot has happened at Unity Temple this past summer.  The white shroud and most scaffolding on the outside are now gone, allowing an unobstructed view of the refinished exterior.  The geothermal system is for the most part now in place.  And the ceiling of the sanctuary has been re-plastered and painted, with the woodwork now back in place.

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Scaffolding on the north side of Unity Temple as seen from Lake St. Photo taken on August 5, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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The north side of Unity Temple from Lake St. after the scaffolding has been removed. Photo taken on September 2, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson. 

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Unity Temple from Kenilworth Ave. Unity House is still topped by steel beams and plywood over the skylight area. Photo taken on September 2, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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A view of Unity Temple from Kenilworth Ave, after all scaffolding, along with the steel and plywood roof over the Unity House skylight, has been removed. Photo taken on October 14, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Skylight openings in Unity House. The concrete supports have been repaired, after the discovery of damage to the supports delayed installation of the new skylight. Photo taken on October 14, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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The Unity House skylight area from above. The steel beams and plywood roof has been removed.  Photo taken on September 23, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Dan Crimmins and a worker view the final preparation of plaster in the sanctuary skylight before painting. The sinter was chemically removed from the outer layer of the plaster. Photo taken on September 23, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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The finished skylight openings in the sanctuary, painted with the woodwork back in place.  Photo taken on October 14, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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The last remaining scaffold on Unity Temple, on the southeast corner of Unity House, as seen from the east side. Photo taken on October 14, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

 

Unity Temple Restoration Continues Into the Summer

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The white shroud around Unity Temple continues to come down.  The sanctuary now has a new skylight, and much of the new shotcrete on the exterior is in place.  The geothermal system with its shiny copper pipes is taking shape nicely.

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The shroud has come down on the east side of Unity Temple, revealing the columns of Unity House and the scaffolding.  Photo taken on June 24, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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A worker applies shotcrete from a spray gun on the east side of Unity House.  Photo taken on May 20, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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A view of the newly-completed roof on the north side of the sanctuary. The scaffolding has been removed. Dan Crimmins is in the background.  Photo taken on June 10, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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The new skylight over the sanctuary.  Photo taken on June 24, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Steve Kelley and Dan Crimmins by the upper north balcony of the sanctuary.  Photo taken on June 10, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Stairway from the dance floor of the sanctuary to the second level. Insulation boards are stacked.  Photo taken on June 10, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Water pipes and valves for the geothermal system in the closet at the northwest corner of the sanctuary.  Photo taken on June 10, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

Tour of Unity Temple Construction

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On April 15, 2016, the Unity Temple construction crew led Unity Temple ministers Alan Taylor and Emily Gage, along with Elizabeth Plummer, Tina Lewis and others, on a tour of the construction site.  We saw first-hand the latest progress in the restoration.

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Alan and Emily stand by the pulpit in the sanctuary.  Photo taken on April 15, 2016, by Ralph Earlandson.

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Elizabeth Plummer, Tina Lewis, Emily Gage and Alan Taylor in the minister’s office, which will be converted into a library.  Photo taken on April 15, 2016, by Ralph Earlandson.

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Our group views the completed coping by the skylight over the sanctuary.  Photo taken on April 15, 2016, by Ralph Earlandson.

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Our group in the kitchen.  Photo taken on April 15, 2016, by Ralph Earlandson.

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Group shot by the east planter by the trailer.  Photo taken on April 15, 2016, by Ralph Earlandson.

 

New Progress at Unity Temple

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It may not be self-evident, but there has been some real progress behind the white shroud at Lake and Kenilworth.  The roofing over the sanctuary and the classrooms in Unity House is taking shape.  New electrical conduits are in place, and new piping for the geothermal system has been installed.

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New electrical conduits are installed in trenches made in the old concrete.  This view is in west cloister of the sanctuary.  Photo taken on March 5, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson

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Dan Crimmins in the South Classroom. Structural repairs are done on roof, with the top of the roof still to be poured.  Note the supports.  Photo taken on February 5, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson

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Scaffold on roof over south side of the sanctuary. The original roofing has been removed. Note the old roofing remaining under the scaffold supports, to be removed when the new roof is poured.  Photo taken on March 4, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson

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Workers prepare the East Classroom roof area for the replacement roof.  Photo taken on March 4, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

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Copper water pipes for the geothermal system extending from tunnel into the main basement.  Photo taken on March 4, 2016 by Ralph Earlandson.

Restoration project makes progress as the new year begins

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A season of Thanksgiving

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We are thankful for so much this year: thankful for our community; thankful for our commitment of patience, curiosity and flexibility during this time of change; and thankful that our spiritual home is being restored and renewed for the century to come.

“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.”  Frank Lloyd Wright 

Thankful for the journey of renewal for our home. (Photo credit: Dan Crimmins)

Thankful for the journey of renewal for our home. (Photo credit: Dan Crimmins)