Medical Arts Building (Oak Park, Illinois)

The Medical Arts Building is an Art Deco office building at 715 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois.[1][2] It is a contributing property to the Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District.[2][3][4][5] At 122 feet, it was the tallest building in Oak Park for several decades after it was built.[6][7][8]

Medical Arts Building
Map
General information
Architectural styleArt Deco
Location715 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois
Coordinates41°53′18.3″N 87°47′36.7″W / 41.888417°N 87.793528°W / 41.888417; -87.793528
Completed1929
Height122 feet (37 m)
Technical details
Floor count10
Floor area42,815 sq ft (4,000 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Roy J. Hotchkiss

History

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The Medical Arts Building was designed by Oak Park architect Roy J. Hotchkiss and was built by Harper & Stelzer at an approximate cost of $250,000.[1][2][9][10][11] Hotchkiss had previously worked as head draftsman for Eben Ezra Roberts.[12] The Medical Arts Building was Hotchkiss's principal contribution to Oak Park's architectural landscape.[12] Ground was broken on December 5, 1928, and the first tenants moved on November 15, 1929.[13][14] By January 1930, the building was almost fully occupied.[14] It was originally owned by Charles B. Scoville and was later owned by the Scoville Trust.[2][3][10][11][15] Original plans called for four story east and west wings, but these were never built.[11]

During World War II, the Oak Park unit of the Association of Army and Navy Wives was located in the Medical Arts Building.[16] In 1976, the building was sold to Dowling and Company.[17] It was later acquired by Jack and Tim Sheehan.[18] The building's terra cotta facade was restored in 2007.[18] Peterson's Pharmacy was a tenant from 1929, when the building opened, until 2014.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b American Institute of Architects Chicago (2014) AIA Guide to Chicago. Third Edition. University of Illinois Press. p. 341. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (2005). Architectural Survey: Downtown Oak Park and The Avenue Business District. Oak Park, Illinois. p. 9. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "715 Lake St Oak Park, Illinois USA", Historic Architecture Survey Database Managed with RuskinARC. April 15, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ Bluestone, Daniel M.; Oak Park Landmarks Commission. "Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form", Oak Park Landmarks Commission. December 8, 1983. p. 5. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. November 7, 1983. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Al-Kodmany, Kheir (2016). New Suburbanism: Sustainable Tall Building Development. Routledge. p. 166. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Stempniak, Marty. "Oak Park entrepreneur opens tour business hoping to capitalize on two-wheeled people-movers", Wednesday Journal. April 19, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Haley, Dan. "Shadows and shade", Wednesday Journal. December 11, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Deuchler, Douglas (2003). Oak Park in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "$341,280 For New Buildings", The Oak Parker. March 8, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Oak Park to Have Medical Arts Building", Chicago Tribune. November 11, 1928. Section 3, p. 1.
  12. ^ a b Steiner, Frances, "E.E. Roberts: Popularizing the Prairie School." The Prairie School Review. Second Quarter, 1973. pp. 5-24.
  13. ^ "Start Excavation for Medical Arts", Oak Leaves. December 8, 1928. p. 93.
  14. ^ a b "Oak Park's First Skyscraper Sends New Year's Greetings", The Oak Parker. January 17, 1930. p. 16.
  15. ^ Devine, Kay. "Gilmore's site put on market", Oak Park River Forest World. Vol. 9, No. 9. March 30, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  16. ^ Massee, Kate. "Women in War Work", Chicago Tribune. December 2, 1942. p. 22.
  17. ^ Business briefs", Oak Leaves. September 15, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  18. ^ a b Magda, Erica. "Medical Arts to get $500K makeover", Wednesday Journal. June 19, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  19. ^ "Peterson's Pharmacy to close after 85 years", Wednesday Journal. July 17, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2019.