Schools to Residential: Motley School Apartments

HISTORIC LANDMARK

Built in 1884 for the Chicago Board of Education, the Motley School is a historic four-story brick and wood building whose former classrooms, offices, and gymnasium have been converted to 34 residential apartments. Originally designed by architect John Flanders, the school’s ornate masonry facade, metal cornice, wood floors, millwork cabinets, chalkboards, and trimwork have been meticulously repaired and refinished. Together with the high ceilings and oversized windows, these fully renovated apartments retain the vintage schoolhouse charm while providing energy efficiency, security, and comforts of a state-of-the-art apartment. A dramatic skyline roof deck, private outdoor yards, independently controlled HVAC, available indoor parking, accessory storage, package valet, and pet-friendly apartments are among the available amenities of the Motley School Apartments.

CHALLENGES

In 2013, the City of Chicago sold to the highest bidder the closed Motley School after hosting a community review process to determine an acceptable new use. A multi-family use coupled to historic preservation of the building generates substantial income for the City in the form of purchase price, jobs to minority and Chicago resident workers and suppliers, contributes to the City’s Open Space fund for public parks and provides ongoing tax revenue. Rejuvenation of a neighborhood icon, landscaping of the street and returning of an abandoned building to productive use are among the many benefits to the public.

EXEMPLARY PRESERVATION

The project salvaged and reused a substantial amount of the building components and historic fabric in order to maintain its original identity. The development team salvaged cabinets, doors, slate chalkboards, principals office files, windows and even the maintenance shop’s original maple workbench. Re-purposed discarded elements from other period schools was sought incorporated for period authenticity and material matches.

October 10, 2023October 11, 2023

Schools to Residential: Peabody School Apartments

HISTORIC LANDMARK

The Elizabeth Peabody Public School was designed by the Chicago Board of Education architect W. August Fiedler and constructed in 1894. The 15-room, three-story building raised over a basement stands out for its intricate details utilizing stone, brick, terra cotta, and decorative metal in the Romanesque Revival / Classical Revival style and is a noteworthy example of Chicago’s public school architecture in the late 1800s.

EXEMPLARY PRESERVATION

Following the closure of several Chicago Public Schools in 2013, Peabody School was sold through a public auction with a redevelopment plan to transform the historic structure into 23 apartments with a rooftop deck. The renovation encompassed the preservation and repair of the building’s facade, cornice, interior trim, and built-ins, including the refurbishment of various school furniture, chalkboards, and cabinets. Apartments are enhanced with a multitude of recycled materials sourced from the school to retain the historic character of the original use. Infrastructure modernization included the complete replacement of the mechanical systems and components to ensure energy efficiency. Additionally, a new deck was added at the roof level to be used as an amenity space for the residents. The existing stairs were repaired and extended to reach the roof, and a new elevator was installed to provide access to all levels of the building.

May 6, 2021October 11, 2023

Flats on Federal Project Progress

ARMOUR INSTITUTE ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT PROGRESS

Armour Institute is the iconic red brick building that can be seen from the I-90 Expressway just before entering downtown Chicago from the south. Opened in 1893, the historic building would eventually become a part of the renowned Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT, Illinois Tech) campus where it continued to serve administrative duties until being closed in 2007. The Armour Institute of Technology began as a manual training school teaching under one roof architecture, engineering, industrial arts, physical ed, and the nation's first fire protection engineering courses, resulting in a structure as varied as its curriculum. In 2017, private developers purchased the building with a plan to convert the building for residential use. New fire protection systems, masonry repairs, and structural reinforcing are a part of the program for building wide repairs and upgrades. Upon completion, Armour Institute will adopt a new name, the Flats on Federal, and will include 102 market-rate and affordable units as wel as resident amenities. The Chicago Landmark building will continue to serve local residents and the IIT neighborhood as a viable housing option available to students and non-students alike.

Project Team: Kenneth DeMuth, Christopher Woodfin, Elliot Schwarz

May 6, 2021 - The Plan Review Committee of the Landmarks Division of the Department of Planning for the City of Chicago approves proposed plans for adaptive reuse of the former Armour Institute building.