ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

1945 - Frank Lloyd Wright (FLLW), a Society member, was chosen to design new building at estimated cost of $80,000, and site is chosen for his “Little Country Church.”

1946 - First design developed 

1949 - Marshall Erdman, chosen as contractor with a bid of $102,000. 

1950/1951 - Redesign of the prow 

1951 - “A” wing of building completed at a cost of $215,000; most vendors taking 70 cents on the dollar.

Mid-1950s - Auditorium starts to sag at “J” truss almost immediately

1961 - Wesley Peters modifies J truss by adding a steel cable to one side of the “J” truss

1964 - The Unitarian Meeting House is named one of Wright’s 17 most important buildings, ones which must be retained as examples of Wright’s contribution to American culture. 

1964 - “B” wing upper level completed according to original design. Wesley Peters adds below grade classrooms hidden by a stone wall

1976 - Roof Repairs

1978 - Replastering of ceiling over Hearth Room undertaken

1990 - Second addition completed by Taliesin Associates

1994 - Auditorium re-coppered and roof repaired.

2004 - Named National Historic Landmark

2005 - Historic Structures Report prepared by Charles Quagliana

2007-2008 - Auditorium light cans rewired and replaced, ceiling anchored and replastered, Landmark repainted to historically accurate colors. Following the completion of this work, a large section of auditorium ceiling falls. Entire ceiling reinforced with three-inch drywall screws, replastered and repainted again.

2008 - Atrium Addition completed. LEED Certified Gold. Much of second addition deconstructed to allow space for third addition.

2014 - Hearth Room ceiling starts leaking again

2017/2018 - Roof Structural Analysis commissioned

2018 “B” Wing and Loggia - copper removed, cedar wood decking inspected, about 30% of battens replaced, 2 layers of ice and water shield applied, new copper floated over surface. 

2018 - Work completed on Prow; New safety glass installed, 163 decorative squares repainted, some wood lattice replaced, panes re-caulked.  Prow returned to 1950 appearance.

2018 - U-shaped steel beam, named J-1, installed to stop sag and torquing problems of I,J and K trussses.  New corner brackets and screws installed on all beams to deal with popping nails.  

2019 - Replacement of Auditorium Roof and repairs to water damage in Hearth Room and Gaebler Living Room ceilings