Medical Arts Building (Oak Park, Illinois) Explained

Medical Arts Building
Coordinates:41.8884°N -87.7935°W
Completion Date:1929
Floor Count:10
Floor Area:42815-2NaN-2
Architect:Roy J. Hotchkiss

The Medical Arts Building is an Art Deco office building at 715 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois.[1] [2] It is a contributing property to the Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District.[2] [3] [4] At 122 feet, it was the tallest building in Oak Park for several decades after it was built.[5] [6] [7]

History

The Medical Arts Building was designed by Oak Park architect Roy J. Hotchkiss and was built by Harper & Stelzer at an approximate cost of $250,000.[1] [2] [8] [9] [10] Hotchkiss had previously worked as head draftsman for Eben Ezra Roberts.[11] The Medical Arts Building was Hotchkiss's principal contribution to Oak Park's architectural landscape.[11] Ground was broken on December 5, 1928, and the first tenants moved on November 15, 1929.[12] [13] By January 1930, the building was almost fully occupied.[13] It was originally owned by Charles B. Scoville and was later owned by the Scoville Trust.[2] [14] [9] [10] [15] Original plans called for four story east and west wings, but these were never built.[10]

During World War II, the Oak Park unit of the Association of Army and Navy Wives was located in the Medical Arts Building.[16] In 1976, the building was sold to Dowling and Company.[17] It was later acquired by Jack and Tim Sheehan. The building's terra cotta facade was restored in 2007.[18] Peterson's Pharmacy was a tenant from 1929, when the building opened, until 2014.[19]

Notes and References

  1. [American Institute of Architects|American Institute of Architects Chicago]
  2. Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (2005). Architectural Survey: Downtown Oak Park and The Avenue Business District. Oak Park, Illinois. p. 9. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. Bluestone, Daniel M.; Oak Park Landmarks Commission. "Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form", Oak Park Landmarks Commission. December 8, 1983. p. 5. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District. National Park Service. November 7, 1983. October 8, 2019.
  5. Al-Kodmany, Kheir (2016). New Suburbanism: Sustainable Tall Building Development. Routledge. p. 166. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  6. Stempniak, Marty. "Oak Park entrepreneur opens tour business hoping to capitalize on two-wheeled people-movers", Wednesday Journal. April 19, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  7. Haley, Dan. "Shadows and shade", Wednesday Journal. December 11, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  8. Deuchler, Douglas (2003). Oak Park in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. "$341,280 For New Buildings", The Oak Parker. March 8, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. "Oak Park to Have Medical Arts Building", Chicago Tribune. November 11, 1928. Section 3, p. 1.
  11. Steiner, Frances, "E.E. Roberts: Popularizing the Prairie School." The Prairie School Review. Second Quarter, 1973. pp. 5-24.
  12. "Start Excavation for Medical Arts", Oak Leaves. December 8, 1928. p. 93.
  13. "Oak Park's First Skyscraper Sends New Year's Greetings", The Oak Parker. January 17, 1930. p. 16.
  14. "715 Lake St Oak Park, Illinois USA", Historic Architecture Survey Database Managed with RuskinARC. April 15, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  15. Devine, Kay. "Gilmore's site put on market", Oak Park River Forest World. Vol. 9, No. 9. March 30, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  16. Massee, Kate. "Women in War Work", Chicago Tribune. December 2, 1942. p. 22.
  17. https://newspaperarchive.com/oak-park-oak-leaves-sep-15-1976-p-31/ Business briefs
  18. Magda, Erica. "Medical Arts to get $500K makeover", Wednesday Journal. June 19, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  19. "Peterson's Pharmacy to close after 85 years", Wednesday Journal. July 17, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2019.

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