Urge the Landmarks Commission to vote to protect Prentice!

Instructions:

Chicago’s historic Prentice Women’s Hospital is threatened with demolition. Eighty leading architects – including Frank Gehry, Jeanne Gang and Renzo Piano – support the preservation and reuse of this extraordinary work of architecture by Chicago’s own Bertrand Goldberg. The Landmarks Commission has put historic Prentice on its November 1st meeting agenda for landmark consideration.

Make your voice heard, and urge the Landmarks Commission to vote to protect Prentice! Your message will be delivered to Landmarks Commission Chairman Rafael Leon, and a copy will be sent to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

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Thanks for your support!

Subject: Vote to Protect Prentice!

Your Letter:

Dear Chairman Leon,

I am writing to urge you and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to vote to protect historic Prentice Women’s Hospital as a Chicago landmark. Thursday’s meeting is an opportunity for the Commission to initiate a full and complete landmark designation process that would preserve a groundbreaking, iconic part of Chicago’s skyline. At the conclusion of this process, the Commission should recommend a proposed landmark designation for historic Prentice to the Chicago City Council.

This extraordinary work of noted Chicago architect Bertrand Goldberg meets four of the criteria for landmark designation, when only two are required. They are:

1. Historic Prentice is a critical part of Chicago’s history.

2. Historic Prentice represents important architecture.

3. Historic Prentice was designed by an important architect.

4. Historic Prentice is unique and distinctive in its physical appearance.

This building is truly singular in construction and design. That’s why a broad coalition of local, national and international voices – including 80 leading architects from Chicago and around the world – support its preservation and reuse.

Northwestern says it can only conduct important medical research and create jobs by tearing down Prentice; we know that's not true. Northwestern maintains that if it can't destroy Prentice — built on just one acre of the 25 acres Northwestern owns in Streeterville — it will not build a medical research facility in the City of Chicago. The truth is, we can have cutting-edge research and preserve our history. Options for reusing Prentice exist and would create more jobs than new construction, but Northwestern has refused even to consider these alternatives.

Chicago’s global reputation for creativity and innovation will wither if the city cannot preserve its most important achievements. We urge the Commission to vote to protect historic Prentice Women’s Hospital as a Chicago landmark.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Rafael M. Leon

Commission on Chicago Landmarks
33 N. LaSalle St.
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60602

Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Office of the Mayor, City Hall
121 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60602