Art Institute of Chicago Lobby

The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 as both a museum and a fine arts school. The museum’s first permanent structure was erected in 1893 in the Beaux-Arts style by the Boston firm Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge. It was constructed as a joint venture with the city of Chicago for the World’s Columbian Exposition; known during the Fair as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building, it hosted numerous gatherings and speakers between May 1 and October 31, 1893. The Art Institute officially opened its doors to the public on December 8, 1893, with the main entrance being located on Michigan Avenue. The building was made a Chicago Landmark in 2002 as a contributing structure to the Historic Michigan Boulevard District.

EverGreene was contracted to clean the plaster ceiling and plaster capitals in the Michigan Avenue lobby as part of a larger project to update electrical systems. The team restored the historic coffered ceiling using gentlest means possible to ensure the original material was preserved. In addition, EverGreene was contracted to replicate the adjacent finishes on new plaster coffers installed in the central bay of the ceiling. Treatments included color matching, painting, and glazing.