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Join us for a virtual tour of the Peterson Avenue Midcentury Modern District. Preservation Chicago selected the district as one of its 7 Most Endangered Sites in 2022. It is one of the finest collections of Midcentury Modern architecture in Chicago.

Price
FREE
Meet
Zoom Virtual Event (details to come)

The two-mile-long district came to life during Chicago’s post-WWII years as an attempt by developers to create a commercial corridor that offered cutting-edge modern amenities, enticing businesses to move away from the city’s older central core.

The district still features many of its original details, including sawtooth rooflines, aluminum signage, and floating staircases, despite years of demolitions and alterations. This presentation will look at how the district came to be, the architects and businesses behind its success, and the urgent need to preserve what’s left.

Program Speaker: Max Chavez

Max Chavez

Max Chavez is the Director of Research and Special Projects at Preservation Chicago. Originally from Los Angeles, Max is a recent graduate of New York University in London’s Historical & Sustainable Architecture graduate program. He is committed to the preservation of underrepresented heritages, most specifically those of the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities.

Program Speaker: Frampton Tolbert

Frampton Tolbert

Frampton Tolbert is Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council, the citywide advocate for New York's historic neighborhoods, buildings, and spaces. HDC works with more than 500 grassroots neighborhood partners across all five boroughs to help preserve their unique historical, architectural, and cultural communities.

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