Carl Schurz High School Historic Rehabilitation and Restoration

Illinois

In many financially strapped school districts, maintenance is inadequate to prevent buildings from falling into disrepair. This was true of the historic Carl Schurz High School, where dingy brick walls, weather-beaten wood windows and pollution-darkened clay roof tiles hid the landmark building. Dedicated in 1910, the building was designed by Dwight H. Perkins, Chief Architect for the Chicago Board of Education (1906-1909), and is considered by many to be his masterpiece. Perkins, with Frank Lloyd Wright, George W. Maher, Robert C. Spenser, Jr. and Myron Hunt were charter members of the Chicago Arts and Crafts Society. Schurz High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Design Elements

The design for Schurz High School was unusual in its dynamic use of form and color. Multicolored brick walls with terra cotta trim, closely spaced piers with recessed spandrels, prominent pylon-like entrances and steeply sloped clay tile roofs distinguished the school from contemporary counterparts. Sited away from the street to minimize noise and maximize light and ventilation, the school was state of the art. With architecturally faithful 1925 additions, it contains 440,000 square feet and can accomodate more than 3500 students.

The Chicago architectural firm, Ross Barney + Jankowski, Inc. was selected by the Public Building Commission to develop and coordinate the tasks required to rehabilitate the exterior. Efforts were focused on adherence to historic building guidelines while preserving the public trust with cost effective solutions. Historic and technical research - consultation, material testing, field surveys and restoration task mock-ups, were critical. Historic agencies participating in the process were the National Park Service, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Chicago Commission on Historic and Architectural Landmarks.

The special features were evident from the beginning. Ground floor walls and three-story piers are smooth, light terra cotta colored iron spot brick, with a matching terra cotta base and trim. Upper floor piers and spandrels are wirecut and dark plum colored brick. The steeply sloped roof is a burnt-orange, Roman profile clay tile. Flashings and decorative ornamentation on eaves and gables are 20-oz. sheet copper. Copper ridge finials on gable ends are an original distinguishing feature. The horizontal bands of color and material continue around the entire building reinforced by careful details.

Based on initial review of the building condition, focus was on the restoration of the exterior. The building has approximately 200,000 square feet of masonry and terra cotta, 1150 wood and 160 steel double-hung windows and 200,000 square feet of roofing with 120,000 square feet of clay tile. Surveys and tests of masonry, window, and roofing assemblies and materials were taken. Sample restoration mock-ups served to study the effectiveness of the design and to provide the bidding contractors with a physical example of the required work. Each major restoration task received its own contract to help implement quality control procedures directly with the individual restoration contractors.

Masonry - The first work executed was masonry cleaning because the exterior of the school was so darkened that visual surveying was difficult. A low pressure water wash prior to the chemical cleaning process removed soft deteriorated mortar, reducing the amount of joint saw cutting in the subsequent masonry restoration package. The cleaning also made it easier to target areas for rakeout, pointing and repointing and exposed the 3/4 inch deep horizontal mortar joint and flush head joint; original details which reinforce the horizontal quality of the building. Mock-up panels for each task were executed before starting the work.

Windows - The condition of each window was surveyed and recorded in a data base. Original windows were virgin northern white pine, painted to match the adjacent brick. Infiltration was a major deficiency, but generally windows were in good overall condition. Replacement windows were considered but restoration with epoxy patching techniques was more cost effective. Frames and sills were stripped, repaired and repainted in place. Sash were removed as required and shop repaired. Some hardware and all weather-stripping was replaced. Mock-up restored windows were installed to show the quality of workmanship required.

Roofing - Random removal of existing clay roof tiles uncovered deterioration of the rosin paper waterproof membrane, rotten or broken wood battens and tile fastening system failure. Removal and reinstallation of existing tile was found to be more expensive than total replacement with a similar tile. Clay roof tile manufacturers were required to submit product test data from independent laboratories showing conformance to ASTM standards specific for Chicago`s harsh temperature variations. This pre-qualification insures that competitive bidding would be based on comparable materials.

The Project Has Been Well Received

Exterior restoration work was completed at Carl Schurz High School in the fall of 1996, and Perkins` magnificent architectural design can once again be appreciated. But the project was not a matter of preservation for preservations` sake. The cost was far more reasonable than new construction; a strong argument for the restoration of historic buildings integral to the fabric of our established communities. As the motto of the masonry cleaning contractor simply states: it is a matter of "giving a future to the past."

Impact of the Project on the Neighborhood

Students, teachers and the community feel a sense of pride in this newly restored landmark school. With the City of Chicago and its school system investing in this community, citizens feel that they have not been forgotten and students feel good about attending the school saying, "it doesn`t feel like a prison anymore." The principal and her teachers have experienced a positive change in the attitudes of their students of this very large and diverse population.

For more information contact:

Ross Barney+Jankowski, Inc.
30 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
312-332-3600
312-332-3606 fax
Website: rbjarchitects.com Carol Ross Barney, FAIA
President, Design Principal
Email: crossbarney@rbjarchitects.com Alan Kirkpatrick, AIA, CSI
Project Architect
Email: akirkpatrick@rbjarchitects.com