Project Details
- Project Name
- Old Republic Building
- Location
-
307 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago ,IL ,United States
- Project Types
- Office
- Project Scope
- Renovation/Remodel
- Year Completed
- 2011
- Shared by
- Balanced door manufacturer
- Consultants
- Illinois Bronze Works/MTH Industries
- Project Status
- Built
Project Description
Ellison Bronze Inc. offers its custom door system to the historic Old Republic Building at 307 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL. The system offers supreme durability and a traditional aesthetic appeal.
The Old Republic Building features two units of three single Ellison signature balanced doors in a 280 alloy muntz bronze with a #4 satin finish and clear lacquer coating. The doors are made in the impressively sturdy and elegant formed-up design with substantial 3.5-inch stiles. The exterior unit is surrounded by a grand three-story rounded arch entry accented with rope and floral designs, and is crowned with a cartouche bearing “OR” (for “Old Republic”) in between a series of decorative swags.
Built in 1924, the building and its entryway’s Classical Revival design is archetypal of its architectural era. The building was granted “landmark status” in 2010. This designation presented the project team with the unique challenge of replacing the prior entry system with one that could withstand high volumes of traffic over many years and legendary Chicago winds, yet would retain a classical style.
To do this, the team turned to a door manufacturer with a history as deeply rooted as The Old Republic Building’s itself: Ellison Bronze. Founded in 1913, Ellison embodies tradition and time-tested quality, yet the company has continuously improved its original designs with modern technologies to ensure its doors are of the highest possible quality. Like the Old Republic Building, many Ellison doors have stood solidly since the late 1920s, making the system a perfect match for the landmark facility.
To satisfy historic characteristics, Ellison created custom bronze glass stop moldings to reflect the building’s original profile. Bronze was chosen for its traditional, solid appeal, which matches the bronze block letters spelling out “Old Republic Building” overhead. The classical aesthetic does not, however, preclude the usage of modern technology. The doors feature Ellison PowerNow power operation functionality, facilitating optimal access for all users while meeting ADA and city of Chicago guidelines.
