Built in Romanesque style 100 years ago, the Monroe Building is a staple among Chicago’s historic architectural landmarks. As is the case with many older structures, the historic building, which houses the Pritzker Military Library, holds a storied past. But a recent restoration has returned the building’s interior to pristine condition, and involved replicating the original Rookwood tile that had been installed in 1911.
A team of artists at Rookwood Pottery Co. of Cincinnati, OH, “worked meticulously to replace the tiles originally handcrafted by their long-ago counterparts in 1911,” according to the company. They dedicated years to studying original construction documents, early photographs, and chemistry and historic material retrieved from the site. Their efforts did not go unnoticed, as the company recently received a “Special Recognition” in the first Coverings Installation & Design Competition.