11 Jun photographic documentation of restoration work on marquette building (1895) and chicago public library (1897)

terra cotta restoration work being done on holabird and roche’s 16-story marquette building. the reddish-brown terra cotta frieze panels with alternating pattern of interlocking anthemions, flowers and scrollwork are located above the large storefront windows. the panels along the east facade have been removed for repair or replacement. 

the chicago school building was built in 1895 by george a fuller, with northwestern terra cotta executing the exterior ornament. 
i’ve included additional images of the building under construction, the 1905-06 addition, and john vinci photo of the building prior to the gfrc replica cornice added in 2001 (the original was stripped off in the 1950s).

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom, bldg. 51 archive and john vinci.

crews have been busy cleaning the old chicago public library’s blue limestone facade for some time now. the library was designed by boston-based sheply, rutan, and coolidge in 1897. 
the ornamental cornice was carved after the indiana limestone panels were set in place. the keystone above the north entrance was never completed.

further reading:

DOCUMENTING THE RESTORATION OF CHICAGO’S DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BUILDINGS THIS FALL AND BEYOND