Platt Luggage Building Relocation

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Project description: The Platt Luggage Building, originally located at 2301 South Prairie Avenue, was designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw. Howard Van Doren Shaw was one the region's most successful and popular architects. The Platt Luggage Building is a wonderful example of the masonry craftsmanship prevalent at the turn of the 20th century.

Antunovich Associates were architects for the design/build team that relocated and reconstructed this marvelous facade. The entire facade was moved to 2203 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive alongside another of Shaw's masterful buildings, the Lakeside Press, the original printing and binding establishment of R.R. Donnelly & Sons Company. Prior to moving the facade, it was mapped and cataloged for dismantlement, with every brick and stone marked for removal or replacement. The dismantlement took three months in which each stone and brick were photographed, logged and placed in storage. All damaged stone and brick were repaired while they were in storage.

After the entire facade was dismantled and repaired, the stone and brick walls were reconstructed and attached to a new structural steel support system. The original brick and stone components were rebuilt to match identically the original historic Platt Luggage Facade. The original windows were not transferred to the new location but replica windows were fabricated and installed in the reconstructed facade. This facade stands as an example of masonry construction excellence of the past as well as the present.

Services: Historic Restoration