Meet an OHC site host: Heather Becker of The Conservation Center

The doors to Chicago’s finest places and spaces don’t unlock themselves. We’d like you to meet the passionate, enthusiastic people who help us host the city’s biggest annual architectural festival: Open House Chicago.

Heather Becker is the CEO of The Conservation Center, the largest private art conservation laboratory in North America. She handles art from almost every medium—from photography to textiles to antique furniture and more.

What is your favorite part about this site?

Besides working in a place where the office talk is about the fine art such as a Matisse or Koons, or a personal art item that is in for treatment, my favorite part about the site is its design—thanks to the esteemed Studio Gang Architects. We were able to preserve a preexisting fireproof structure that caters to all of the exact needs of our conservators, by seamlessly integrating technology and the needs of a fine arts studio space.

What do you love about Open House Chicago?

We enjoyed the opportunity to open our doors to so many Chicagoans who are curious about the art of art conservation, and the services we offer here. Visitors are surprised to learn that we not only offer services to museums and large institutions but also provide treatments and services that cater to any individual, like damaged family photographs or antiques inherited from relatives over the years.

What is the most common question you get asked by OHC visitors?

Guests were asking “How does something get fixed?” or “How do you do that?” Many were surprised about how visibly you could see improvements, based on displayed before-and-after photos.