Restoration Celebrations
- Guests gather at the corner of Kenilworth and Lake in Oak Park, Illinois to celebrate the completion of the 2015-2017 Unity Temple restoration
- Unity Temple Re-Dedication Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Begins
- Rob Bellmar, president of the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation (UTUUC) welcomes guests
- Dignitaries ready to cut the ribbon re-dedicating Unity Temple
- Brad White, President, Unity Temple Restoration Foundation and Rev. Alan Taylor, senior minister of UTUUC, “do the honors”
- Fred Eychaner, Founder and Chairman of Alphawood Foundation; Jim McDonough, executive director of Alphawood Foundation; Gunny Harboe, Harboe Architects; Andy Roscoe, Project Management Associates; and Jack Tribbia, Berglund Construction join in the ribbon cutting ceremony
- Rev. Taylor wishes Frank Lloyd Wright a Happy 150th Birthday!
- Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb recognizes Unity Temple as an international architectural treasure in Chicago’s backyard of Oak Park
- Brad White thanks the Alphawood Foundation for launching the Unity Temple restoration with a $10 million charitable gift
- Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb and guests enter Unity Temple for the Civic Ceremony
- More than 250 people attended the Civic Ceremony recognizing the completion of the historic $25 million restoration
- Fred Eychaner Founder and Chairman of Alphawood Foundation, witnesses the ribbon cutting for the comprehensive restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “modern masterpiece”
- Inscription on the west entrance to Unity Temple, “For the Worship of God and the Service of Man”
- Restored pulpit within Unity Temple sanctuary
- A guest captures the Civic Ceremony on his cell phone
- The UTUUC Choir performs for guests at the Civic Ceremony
- Martha Swisher conducts the UTUUC choir
- Brad White acknowledges all those who had a hand in the “Restoration to Last the Next One Hundred Years”
- Gunny Harboe, Harboe Architects, the lead preservation architect for the 2014-2017 Unity Temple restoration
- Gunny Harboe snaps a photo of the audience at the Civic Ceremony just prior to delivering his remarks
- Jennifer Marling, UTRF board member, speaks to the “Spirit of Philanthropy” that made the restoration possible
- Senator Harmon recognizes Unity Temple as part of the historic architectural tapestry of the State of Illinois
- Anne Sullivan, UTRF board member, introduces Paul Goldberger, former architecture critic of the New York Times and New Yorker, contributing editor of Vanity Fair and Pulitzer Prize winner for Criticism in Journalism
- Paul Goldberger delivers an insightful perspective on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece Unity Temple.
- Fred Eychaner accepts a standing ovation from the audience for the Alphawood gift of $10 million which launched the project in 2013
- Humbled, Fred Eychaner returns guests’ applause with gratitude of his own for the opportunity…
- Some 250 guests pack the pews in the Unity Temple sanctuary for the Civic Ceremony
- Dan Whittaker, UTRF board member, and Fred Eychaner show appreciation to Gunny Harboe for his leadership of the 2015-2017 restoration
- Gunny Harboe and Paul Goldberger share a moment at the conclusion of the Civic Ceremony
- Alan Abu-Taleb, Mayor of the Village of Oak Park; Senator Don Harmon; Rev. Alan Taylor; Rob Bellmar
- Senator Don Harmon talks with Jim McDonough, Executive Director of the Alphawood Foundation
- The UTUUC Choir performs prior to the Civic Ceremony
- A brief post-Civic Ceremony chat between Paul Goldberger and Fred Eychaner is enjoyed by all
- Vera Dowell, UTRF board member, chats with Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast, Joe Gordon.
- Dan Crimmins, former UTUUC board Chair, presents recognition award to Fred Eychaner which was designed by the great grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Natof.
- Heather Hutchison announces the $2 million gift of the TAWANI Foundation which includes a $1 million Challenge Grant to inspire others to give to the project for which funding is still needed