“From Pope Leo XIV’s childhood church to the reconstructed and relocated Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room at the Art Institute, Preservation Chicago’s annual ranking of the city’s seven most endangered buildings is so full of local history it has eight entries.
“Like the guitar amplifier scene from the movie ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ the city’s architectural preservation watchdog offered up a simple explanation for having its top-seven list go to eight.
“‘It’s seven-plus-one,” said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. ‘Because we had an extra one.’
“There’s a lot more than eight endangered structures if you count the iconic bridges and tender houses falling into disrepair along the Chicago River, which collectively form one item on the expanded list. And topping Preservation Chicago’s 24th annual list are two historical features at the Art Institute, which may fall by the wayside under a plan to expand the sprawling campus along South Michigan Avenue.
“1. The Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room and McKinlock Court at the Art Institute
“In 2019, the Art Institute of Chicago retained Barcelona architectural firm Barozzi Veiga to craft a master plan to expand the museum’s 1 million square feet of space, transforming the campus by opening it up to Grant Park, the lake and even the train lines bisecting the 17-acre site.
“The plan began to take shape with the 2024 announcement of a $75 million gift to create a new building to house the museum’s collection of late-19th century modern and contemporary art. While details have yet to emerge, Preservation Chicago fears it may spell the end for both the Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room and the McKinlock Court Garden.
“Designed by architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, the Chicago Stock Exchange Building was demolished in 1972. But a piece of its history was relocated and restored at the Art Institute, where the ornate two-story trading room reopened in 1977 as a reception hall at the east end of the museum.
“For nearly half a century, the trading room has hosted everything from weddings to corporate events, with visitors admiring its ornamented columns, stained-glass skylights and elaborate stenciled walls. Miller believes time may be running out on the room.
“‘It’s really a fabulous room that was used for events and receptions and art openings,’ Miller said. ‘It was something they were really proud of.’
“The adjacent McKinlock Court, a century-old outdoor garden with a replica of Carl Milles’ Fountain of the Tritons that has long served as a unique events space and alfresco oasis for weary museum visitors, may also be vulnerable to redevelopment, Miller said.
“Preservation Chicago would like both the trading room and outdoor garden declared Chicago landmarks and is encouraging the Art Institute to locate its new building over the property’s railroad trench instead of demolishing those structures.
“It is also launching a Change.org petition to save both features at the Art Institute, Miller said.
“In a statement Wednesday, the Art Institute acknowledged that the current trading room may be displaced by expansion plans, but pledged to seek a new home for it if that happens.
“‘As we have assessed which part of our campus has the most potential for expansion, the east side of the building — where the Trading Room is located — represents the area where gallery space could increase the most,” an Art Institute spokesperson said. “If our campus evolution did impact the Trading Room, our first priority would be to work with partners to find a new location for the space. No decisions have been made at this time.’ (Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3/4/26)