a quick friday afternoon visit to the chicago athletic association building

slowly but surely, any and all historic or architectural detailing original to the time of the chicago athletic association building's construction (1893), is carefully being reinstalled after a seemingly minor restoration and/or repair was completed months ago.

remarkably, the second floor "reading room," with its gargantuan stone mantels and darkly stained and intricately designed gothic style oak wood work, appeared as if it never had been disturbed.

the visually striking mosaic tile floor (currently covered over) has been thoroughly cleaned and sealed, leaving a bright and cheerful yelllow and red color scheme that will contrast nicely with the dark millwork, but that won't be revealed until the very end of construction.

the most noticeable alteration in the reading room is the inclusion of several barebulb lighting units that will hopefully incorporate "edison" type incandescent hairpin filament light bulbs. when electrified, the lighting would give off a very soft and warm source of illumination.

a few floors up, i noticed that the skilfully produced recasts of the 8th floor ceiling 'drooping tip" panels are being knocked out at a steady pace now that the experimental phase has evolved into a more orderly and streamlined arrangement, where replications made to a satisfactory degree of accuracy will be ready for installation when the times comes.

the majority of the other historic rooms have remain largely unchanged since my last visit, so my time there was maybe two hours (i'm usually there half a day if major alterations are unfolding).

i am curious as to what they intend on doing to the grand ballroom located in the building's annex (1907). thankfully, the "gardenesque" plasterwork will remain in place with repairs being made, but what purpose the room will serve within a hotel setting is not known.

 more images and observations to follow in the coming weeks...