In the first stages of planning for the future use of 5757 S. University Ave. — the home of the Chicago Theological Seminary until the seminary's planned move in 2012 — the building will be examined and documented through several separate processes this summer.
To determine the condition of the building, workers will inspect the building's exterior, interior and foundation, including taking measurements and photographs.
University planners, with Ann Beha Architects, are also undertaking an evaluation of academic programming needs and the spaces provided by the building.
Beginning this month, the architects also will conduct a preservation assessment of the structure, which was built between 1923 and 1928. The assessment will include a full physical description of the building, extensive photo documentation, architectural analysis and further research into the building's history.
A summary of the findings of the preservation assessment, including photographs, will be available this fall. A public meeting to discuss the assessment is tentatively planned for fall, with date and place to be announced.
No construction work will take place until the assessment phase is completed. As plans for the building progress, there will be further presentations and opportunities for discussion. The University is committed to the creative and sensitive adaptive reuse of the building, which will be an important part of the University's campus and future.
The University purchased 5757 S. University Ave. in 2008. The Chicago Theological Seminary will retain possession of the building until it moves into a new facility, currently under construction at the corner of 60th Street and Dorchester Avenue.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
