largely intact c. 1953-6 vintage varnished birch veneer wood laboratory interior door featuring a unique clear glass circular portal or window. the words "surgery preparation" are located beneath the window. the sign is composed of a hand-painted black uppercase lettering with silver outlining or shadowing. the door was removed (with several others bearing similar design characteristics) from the research foundation building, more recently known as the blood center, located on the michael reese hospital campus. the building was designed beginning in 1948 and completed nearly eight years later. the chicago firm of a. epstein and sons, along with consulting architects, walter gropius of the architects collaborative or tac were the architects involved in the building's construction. gropius was a german architect and founder of the bauhaus - who along with ludwig mies van der rohe, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture. the salvaged door measures 84 by 36 inches. the building was demolished in late 2009.