Garfield Gold Dome Restoration
The Garfield Park Administration Building, originally designed in 1927 as the headquarters for the West Chicago Park District by Michaelsen & Rognstad, boasts a striking two-story entrance hall crowned with a dome of concrete and terra cotta roof tiles.
In 1990, the Chicago Park District embarked on a restoration journey for the dome due to ongoing water infiltration issues. Nurture conducted a comprehensive investigation, determining that the terra cotta cladding needed removal to repair and waterproof the structural concrete dome.
Alternative replacement strategies and construction documents were proposed in two phases. Phase I focused on correcting internal drainage problems and repairing and waterproofing the concrete dome. In Phase II, Nurture replicated the original dome cladding using precast panels of glass fiber reinforced concrete molded from the original terra cotta, adorned with a gold leaf finish.
The project garnered design awards for its successful restoration, which not only resolved the persistent water infiltration issues but also preserved the architectural integrity of the building's original elements.