Medical Arts Building (Oak Park, Illinois)

Building in Oak Park, Illinois

Medical Arts Building

General information
Architectural style| Art Deco
Location| 715 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois
Coordinates| 41°53′18.3″N 87°47′36.7″W﻿ / ﻿41.888417°N 87.793528°W﻿ / 41.888417; -87.793528
Completed| 1929
Height| 122 feet (37 m)
Technical details
Floor count| 10
Floor area| 42,815 sq ft (4,000 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)| 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][5] At 122 feet, it was the tallest building in Oak Park for several decades after it was built.[6][7][8]

## History

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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][9][10][11] Hotchkiss had previously worked as head draftsman for Eben Ezra Roberts.[12] The Medical Arts Building was Hotchkiss's principal contribution to Oak Park's architectural landscape.[12] Ground was broken on December 5, 1928, and the first tenants moved on November 15, 1929.[13][14] By January 1930, the building was almost fully occupied.[14] It was originally owned by Charles B. Scoville and was later owned by the Scoville Trust.[2][3][10][11][15] Original plans called for four story east and west wings, but these were never built.[11]

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.[18] 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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Medical Arts Building (Oak Park, Illinois).

## References

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1. ^ a b American Institute of Architects Chicago (2014) AIA Guide to Chicago. Third Edition. University of Illinois Press. p. 341. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b "715 Lake St Oak Park, Illinois USA", Historic Architecture Survey Database Managed with RuskinARC. April 15, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. November 7, 1983. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
6. ^ Al-Kodmany, Kheir (2016). New Suburbanism: Sustainable Tall Building Development. Routledge. p. 166. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ Haley, Dan. "Shadows and shade", Wednesday Journal. December 11, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
9. ^ Deuchler, Douglas (2003). Oak Park in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
10. ^ a b "$341,280 For New Buildings", The Oak Parker. March 8, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
11. ^ a b c "Oak Park to Have Medical Arts Building", Chicago Tribune. November 11, 1928. Section 3, p. 1.
12. ^ a b Steiner, Frances, "E.E. Roberts: Popularizing the Prairie School." The Prairie School Review. Second Quarter, 1973. pp. 5-24.
13. ^ "Start Excavation for Medical Arts", Oak Leaves. December 8, 1928. p. 93.
14. ^ a b "Oak Park's First Skyscraper Sends New Year's Greetings", The Oak Parker. January 17, 1930. p. 16.
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. ^ Business briefs", Oak Leaves. September 15, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
18. ^ a b 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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Oak Park, Illinois

Schools|

* Oak Park Elementary School District
* Oak Park and River Forest High School
* Fenwick High School

Attractions|

* Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District
* Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
* Unity Temple
* Ernest Hemingway
* Birthplace of Ernest Hemingway
* Edgar Rice Burroughs homes
* Medical Arts Building
* Oak Park Conservatory
* Pleasant Home
* George W. Smith House
* Scoville Square
* Seward Gunderson Historic District
* Robert P. Parker House
* Horse Show Fountain
* Oscar B. Balch House
* Oak Park Arms
* Suburban Trust and Savings Bank Building
* Walter Gale House
* Arthur Heurtley House

Transportation|

* Oak Park Metra station
* Green Line (CTA)
* Blue Line (CTA)
* Pace

Media|

* Oak Park Journal
* Oak Leaves
* Wednesday Journal
* WEUR

Culture and society|

* Oak Park Festival Theatre
* Prominent people from Oak Park

Township|

* Oak Park Township

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