Moody Triangle
North Federal Savings Bank/Wintrust Bank
Address: 100 W. North Avenue
Architect: Naess & Murphy
Date: 1961
Style: Midcentury Modern
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
D.L. Moody Memorial Church and School Building and Offices
Address: 1630 N. Clark Street / 1635 N. LaSalle Drive
Architect: Fugard & Knapp
Date: 1924
Style: Moorish
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Archway Standard Station/BP Service Station
Address: 1647 N. LaSalle Street
Architect: George Terp
Date: 1971
Style: Jet – Age
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
OVERVIEW
The Moody Triangle site, in the Old Town neighborhood of the Lincoln Park Community Area, is formed by North Avenue to the south and the convergence of Clark Street and LaSalle Drive to the north. This highly-visible parcel fronting Lincoln Park and the Chicago History Museum has emerged as endangered by a potential revisioning and redevelopment site by Moody Church and Fern Hill Company.
The proposed scope of development includes many nearby parcels to the west along North Avenue and sites along the 1600 blocks of LaSalle and Wells Streets in addition to the triangular parcel of land that we are referring to as the Moody Triangle. However, due to the significant architecture and design of the structures located on this site, Preservation Chicago has focused and included just the triangular parcel as one of our 2022 Chicago 7 Most Endangered.
This triangular site contains three buildings which we at Preservation Chicago feel are extremely noteworthy. These structures include the former North Federal Savings Bank (1961) by Naess & Murphy, now known as the Wintrust Bank Building, and the Moody Memorial Church (1924-1925) by architect John Fugard of Fugard & Knapp. Also included, at the apex of the triangular site, is a sculptural building constructed as Archway Standard Station, later known as Archway Amoco, and now a BP Service Station, with a sweeping hood and overhanging steel canopy that gently transitions to a hyperbolic curve of concrete, sloping down to the ground.
Noting that these parcels have been included in some of the lists of properties eligible for redevelopment, Preservation Chicago wishes to encourage the preservation of these three structures. While the Shell Station at 130 W. North Avenue is part of this triangular parcel of land, it is not architecturally significant and may be considered, without objection, an eligible development site for Moody and Fern Hall.
North Federal Bank/Wintrust Bank
HISTORY: North Federal Bank/Wintrust Bank
The North Federal Savings Bank, later Diamond Bank and now Wintrust Bank, was designed by the firm of Naess & Murphy in 1961. This Midcentury Modern structure was not included in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey
(CHRS), as the building was too new and under 50 years of age when the area was surveyed. However, the building was so well-regarded by experts in the field and the City of Chicago, that the City’s Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Planning & Development had sought the building for possible Chicago Landmark designation in 2007.
This bank was considered an excellent representation of a Modernist community bank by a significant firm, executed in the International Style, influenced by the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and was considered as a viable candidate for The Neighborhood Banks District. However, the owner at the time, Diamond Bank, opposed landmark designation. Instead of viewing this potential designation as an honor, bank leadership chose to challenge and push back with such intensity that this building was dropped as a candidate for landmark designation, which included five other neighborhood banks. This was disappointing and alarming to many within the preservation movement. It is a small site and could have been a great source of pride but that opportunity was unfortunately squandered. The building remains an outstanding candidate for a potential Chicago Landmark designation, but this would most likely require owner consent.
THREAT: North Federal Bank/Wintrust Bank
The North Federal Savings Bank Building, now Wintrust Bank Building, is a modest, two-story, Midcentury Modern building at a great location on a valuable parcel of land. Previous efforts with the former owners and bank to designate the building as a Chicago Landmark failed, despite support from the architecture and preservation community. At this time with a proposed development planned for all of the Moody sites in partnership with Fern Hall, and under the leadership of renowned Ghanaian-British architect, David Adjaye, many are concerned about the bank building and the potential redevelopment of this triangular parcel of land.
RECOMMENDATIONS: North Federal Bank/Wintrust Bank
Despite some preliminary assurances that the bank is not part of the redevelopment plans at this time, we are concerned for the long-term preservation of this Midcentury Modern structure. Wintrust Bank is a Chicago-based institution and we would like to see the owner and the bank consent to a Chicago Landmark designation of their building which was determined by the City of Chicago to be worthy of Landmarking
The D.L. Moody Memorial Church & Sunday School Building and Offices
HISTORY: Moody Memorial Church
The D.L. Moody Memorial Church & Sunday School Building is a remarkable Romanesque and Byzantine Style structure with a 3,740-seat auditorium and sanctuary. This building, designed and constructed from 1924-1925 by John Fugard of the architecture firm of Fugard & Knapp is a fabulous and extraordinary building, as well as a local community landmark. Situated in the middle of the block on this triangular site, this large, rounded drum-shaped building, with its rich red brick and polychromed terracotta details, captures the imagination of everyone that passes the complex. The western elevation of Moody Church fronting LaSalle Drive, in the center of the triangular parcel, showcases stepped, semicircular arches in red brick which beautifully reflect qualities of Romanesque and Norman architecture. Later additions were added to both the Clark and LaSalle elevations in recent decades, which are sensitive reflections of the historic 1920s structures.
Now referred to as Moody Church, the church building was built to replace an earlier church located at Chicago Avenue and LaSalle Drive. This earlier church was demolished in 1939 for the widening of LaSalle after a long debate as well as legal challenges beginning in the 1920s. That earlier church co-joined the Moody Bible Institute Campus, dating back to 1874-1876. More recently, the Moody Bible Institute has begun selling its extensive real estate holdings for a large scale redevelopment project.
Moody Church was founded by Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899) in Chicago in 1864, originally establishing the congregation in what was then known as the Illinois Street Church, which burned in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Moody was a great orator and evangelist, attracting large crowds at gatherings during religious revival tours throughout the nation and Britain. He worked closely with Ira Sanky, a popular evangelical gospel singer and composer. In 1886, Moody returned to Chicago and established the Chicago Evangelization Society, later becoming
the forerunner of the Chicago Bible Institute and Moody Bible Institute. Dwight Moody established the now- demolished Chicago Avenue Church (1873-1876, Johnston & Edelmann, with interior fresco-secco decorations by Louis Sullivan), at the northwest corner of LaSalle Drive and Chicago Avenue, later renamed Moody Church upon his death. He also established Chicago as an evangelical center and founded the Chicago Bible Institute, which also was renamed Moody Bible Institute, following his death.
THREAT: Moody Memorial Church
While sources have assured us that at this time there is no immediate threat to the Moody Church Building or its ancillary attached structures, Moody Church is actively liquidating most of its extensive nearby real estate holdings, including many parcels directly to the west of Moody Church. It is conceivable that at some future time, after all of the current sites have been successfully sold and revisioned by a world-renowned architect and a developer, that the large Moody Church campus with its expansive park and lake views, would become a highly desirable potential development site. While the current church decision makers and development team have indicated that the Moody Church campus is not “in play,” future decision makers might take a different approach to this large, valuable, centrally-located parcel of land, fronting Lincoln Park with unparalleled views of Lake Michigan.
Moody Bible Institute, the church’s affiliate a mile or so to the south, is also selling many of its blocks of historic buildings and vacant lands—approximately 8.1 acres for a decade-long project containing 2,680 apartments, condominiums and townhomes–to another developer, JDL. This large development of buildings, to be called North Union, will contain at least three proposed towers estimated to be over 500 feet in height. It is to extend from Chicago Avenue to Oak Street and from Wells Street to the Brown Line, near Orleans Street; the project has also
received approvals from the City. There will also be 30,000 square feet of retail and 1.3 acres of open space. While some historic buildings are to be reused as part of the North Union project, others will be demolished. As part of the redevelopment of these expansive sites, a handful of architecturally significant historic buildings should be protected and several historic buildings are to be retained.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Moody Memorial Church
As Moody Church and Fern Hill are in discussions with the community and elected officials on several prominent sites on the Near North Side and within the Old Town community, we would like to recommend that Moody Church and its adjoining church, community, and offices become designated Chicago Landmarks as part of the overall development plans. This would honor Moody’s long history of evangelism, its buildings, and the institution’s presence in Chicago from the mid-19th century to present day. Additionally, it would protect this remarkable Romanesque building and complex well into the future.
While there may not be an immediate threat to the 3,740-seat sanctuary, auditorium, and building, now is the optimal time for this building to be protected and designated as a Chicago Landmark. It would easily meet four of the City’s Landmark Criteria, including: important architects; association with someone of great note (in this case, Dwight Moody); importance to the city’s history; and important architecture, as Moody Church is an exceptional building with marvelous detailing and craftsmanship.
Perhaps the Moody Church’s Landmark designation could result in zoning variances for greater height and density for the adjacent sites. Such ideas could even include selling or transferring the church’s air-rights bonuses to other adjacent sites and nearby projects, beyond this triangle of land bounded by North Avenue, LaSalle Drive, and Clark Street.
Archway Standard Station/BP Service Station
HISTORY: Archway Standard Station
The Archway Standard Station, later renamed Archway Amoco and now known as the BP Station, is situated at the apex of this triangular site, where the confluence of two arterial streets, LaSalle Drive and Clark Street, merge. It is a very dynamic and special intersection, near the beginnings of Lincoln Park and with direct access to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan.
Archway Standard was the design of architect George Terp (1910-1998) and was opened in 1971. Terp attended the Armour Institute of Technology, now known as the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT/Illinois Tech), and was said to have designed nearly 14,000 gas stations over his 25-year career as an architect for the Amoco Oil Company. Retiring from Amoco two years after the construction of the station in 1973, Terp continued a small architectural practice in the South Suburb of Flossmoor, Illinois. This project was likely completed at the zenith of his career.
THREAT: Archway Standard Station
This Midcentury Modern structure may be in harm’s way due to the planned redevelopment project. From a development perspective, this triangular site would provide outstanding and unparalleled views of Lincoln Park and the Chicago Lakefront, from upper stories of any new building proposed for this site. New construction at this site could greatly impact this much beloved service station—a one of a kind and unique feature which delights those passing by. Noted for its long extending canopy which extends from the ground with concrete feet, the structure rises upward to form a large protective cover to shield patrons from the wind, rain, sun and snow at a very windy
corner location close to Lake Michigan. Over time, the once patriotic colors of Standard Oil’s red, white and blue have changed to the green and yellow colors of BP. However, much of the station remains as it was originally designed by Terp.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Archway Standard Station
Noting that this service station building is a unique design and feature, Preservation Chicago believes that this structure could become the first service station to be designated a Chicago Landmark. While Chicago has many service and gas stations, it is rare to find one with a landmark worthy design. If the service station can no longer operate as a gas and service station or upgraded as an electric charging station, we urge that the elongated extending canopy be reused and incorporated into the new construction design which engages much of the historic structure.
