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Ambitious Restoration Leads to Rebirth of a Chicago Landmark

Nov. 20, 2023

How do you replicate historic windows when little documentary evidence exists? In the case of the Belden-Stratford, originally known as “one of Chicago's most distinctive hotels,” the team uncovered the building’s secrets one step at a time.

The Belden-Stratford, a 16-story landmarked building offering its residents sweeping views of the Chicago skyline, Navy Pier and Lake Michigan, was undergoing a complete historic restoration. However, none of the original window drawings existed, the only photographs from the era were black and white, and the original windows had been replaced in the late 1980s. Discover how patience, diligence and a good bit of detective work led to a striking success.