Delaware Building
The Delaware Building, designed by Wheelock and Thomas and erected in 1872 shortly after the Great Chicago Fire, underwent significant modifications in 1889 and again in 1893. Originally, the lower floors featured a cast iron and glass façade, while the upper floors boasted precast concrete "cast stone" on a brick-bearing wall. Decorative pressed zinc sheets were added to the top two floors.
Nurture played a pivotal role in the restoration of the building's exterior and served as a consultant for the restoration of the interior atrium. Our team underwent an exhaustive investigation into materials conservation, stripping the building of paint and testing various stabilization methods and treatments. To accurately reproduce the missing iron storefront and zinc cornice, elaborate research was conducted utilizing historic photographs, original drawings, and written accounts.
Based on this research, the iron storefront was recast, the zinc cornice replicated in fiberglass, and the cast stone patched and repaired before the façade was painted in its original colors. Interior work included the restoration of the atrium, encompassing the repair and restoration of the cast iron and glass block floor, along with the cleaning and painting of the atrium.
The Delaware Building was honored with an Award for Superior Achievement and Professional Excellence from the Society of American Registered Architects.