APT WGLC invites members to join us for a behind-the-scenes jobsite tour of the First Baptist Congregational Church in Chicago.
Constructed between 1869 and 1871 as Union Park Congregational Church, the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a local Chicago Landmark. The exterior facades are composed of Lemont Limestone, and the roof is supported by a massive wooden truss system. The bell tower, which is approximately 250 feet tall, is currently undergoing a $1.4M restoration funded by a City of Chicago Adopt-a-Landmark grant.
The tour will highlight the ongoing exterior restoration efforts, along with a behind-the-scenes look at the interior of the bell tower and steeple, the timber roof trusses in the attic, and the interior of the sanctuary. A brief history of the congregation will be provided by church members, and we may have a chance to hear the impressive organ!
APT WGLC will meet at 3:00 pm on November 3rd on the sidewalk at the corner of Ashland and Washington. Participants will be broken into two to three groups, and each group will have time allotted to an exterior scaffold tour and an interior tour bell tower and attic tour. All participants will need to remain with tour guides. The groups will reconvene in the sanctuary prior to concluding the tour.
This tour includes climbing scaffolding stair towers up to 125 feet high and navigating high steps on an active construction site. Please wear appropriate footwear (close- toed shoes), and bring a hardhat and flashlight if you have one. A limited number of hard hats will be available for loan on site. If you do not have appropriate PPE, you may be required to stay at ground level.
This program will offer 1 AIA LU/ HSW pending approval.
Please note that registration is limited to 25 people.
The church is a short walk from the Ashland stop on the CTA green and pink lines. Limited parking is available in the lot west of the church accessible from Washington Boulevard and on surrounding streets.
Registration is limited to APT WGLC members and AIA Chicago HRKC members with a valid registration code. If you are not an APT WGLC member, please consider joining to attend this event and take advantage of other membership benefits throughout the year. Individual membership starts at only $30 per year. Please see our website for additional details.