South Shore Cultural Center
The South Shore Cultural Center, designed by Marshall & Fox Architects, encompasses the building and grounds of the former South Shore Country Club in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated City of Chicago Landmark, Nurture was engaged to restore the entry pergola, colonnade, and trellis, a rehabilitation of existing ornamental windows and entry doors, a repainting of highly detailed ornamental reception rooms, and a restoration of the outdoor promenade to include accessible access.
During the years since it was purchased, South Shore Cultural Center suffered significant deterioration and starting in 2016, a project was initiated to address key elements of the building, including almost all exterior elements of the project. Existing historic windows in disrepair, 45 different styles and configurations, were repaired and repainted.
The stone balustrades at the four penthouses were beyond repair and had to be replicated in all their detail; pieces of one of the least damaged of the in-situ balusters were carefully removed and reassembled, providing a pattern for the cast stone mold, maintaining the size and profile of the original members, matching the original limestone with precision. Major areas of the stucco façade were repaired on all elevations, and the pebble dash finish was re-coated to preserve it.
The restoration of the architectural magnificence of South Shore Cultural Center, utilizing materials meant to create durable and long lasting improvements, received a PARC grant from the State of Illinois, bringing life back a building that the South Shore community fought to preserve in the 1970s, saving it from demolition once planned by the Park District; now saving it again for future generations.
