St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Chicago is undergoing a historic church restoration coordinated by Building Envelope Professionals Group, LLC (BEPG). The church’s restoration began in early 2021 with an exterior assessment and some creative financing suggestions. This historic church restoration is a work in progress, and BEPG looks forward to sharing the results!
St. Andrew Lutheran Church | Chicago, Illinois | 2021
Services Provided
- Building Investigation and Analysis
- Feasibility Study and Cost Estimation
- Historic Preservation
- Creative financing strategies
Structural Assessment
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, constructed in 1891, is located in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago. The structure is almost entirely original, with only several minor interior renovations.
BEPG assessed the church building after masonry fell from one of the towers in early 2021. Upon initial inspection, BEPG staff observed significant masonry deterioration owing to inappropriate masonry restoration work completed in the past. Visible interior and exterior deterioration and the observable lean of the main spire indicated potential structural issues within the main tower.
The Next Steps
BEPG is currently leading a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the condition of the primary elevation and towers to determine necessary repairs to ensure the stability and preservation of the church. Following our report, immediate restoration work on the historic church will begin following our structural repair recommendations.
BEPG is also assisting the church in finding and applying for grant funding to offset the costs of this critical project.
Another Historic Church Restoration:
BEPG recently completed another similar historic preservation project at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church in Roxbury, WI. It also involved a substantial masonry restoration as well as stabilization of the main tower. You can find additional information about this project on our St. Norbert Catholic Church Exterior Restoration page or our project spotlight page on masonry restoration.
BEPG has years of experience working with historical buildings. Check out other restoration projects or contact us.