BY JUDY CARMACK BROSS
Savoring summer and skyscrapers, the Skyline Council of young and young-minded professionals of Landmarks Illinois celebrated its fourth annual networking mixer atop The Alfred. With a nod to Chicago’s legacy as the birthplace of the skyscraper and Landmarks Illinois’ incredible accomplishments in saving local treasures from the wrecking ball, the Council chooses a unique historic site each year to introduce partnering organizations to preservationists of the future.
This year, the Skyline Council partnered with Arquitectos, International, Concrete Repair Institute, Inc. (ICRI), the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) and welcomed 150 guests to The Alfred, Cedar Street Companies’ newest FLATS residential property. Above the historic Miller’s Pub, the 94-year-old former Hartmann Building has been restored and redeveloped into 176 apartments including a rooftop lounge.
Currently, the Skyline Council is raising money to restore the 167-year-old one-room Whitney Schoolhouse in Campton Hills. The Council began working to restore this significant and unique building in 2015.
We asked Skyline Council Chair Allison Toonen-Talamo to tell us more about their work:
Skyline Council Chair Allison Toonen-Tamano welcomes guests to the 4th Annual Summer Mixer August 15 at The Alfred
What does the Council particularly enjoy about landmarks, and how your group is emerging and growing?
“What I love about the Skyline Council of Landmarks Illinois is the involvement and evolvement of the group not only within the organization itself, but the impact this group has with various size communities and the state overall. The amount of passion and drive within the Skyline Council is addictive and makes you want to constantly reach to do better for the future generations.”
Guests gather on the rooftop patio at The Alfred
Why is landmark preservation a great passion of its members?
“What I love about the Skyline Council and even Landmarks Illinois is everyone comes from different facets of work, but we have one common goal, love, passion and/or drive which is protecting our local gems. Without landmarked properties, we could lose valuable architecture, engineering, and even history that made the community what it is now. We see the value and how precious landmarked properties are like story books which we would not be able to get back once they are destroyed. That is what drives us to serve our communities.”
Members of the Skyline Council of Landmarks Illinois gather on the rooftop patio of The Alfred at the 2019 Skyline Mixer. (Back row, L-R: Emily Sajdak, Gregory Dowell, Erica Ruggiero, Sara Van Domelen, Anney Grish, Robert Lau, Paul Tzanetopoulos, Brian Snedden. Front row L-R: Erika Block, Allison Toonen-Talamo, Tiffanie Williams, Chelsea Medek.)
LeAnn Ditter of Cedar Street Companies, Suzanne Germann, Kaitlyn McAvoy and Tiffanie Williams of Landmarks Illinois, and guests
Do you have a favorite Chicago landmark?
That one is so tough! I would say Louis Sullivan’s Sullivan Center, formerly known as Carson Pirie Scott and Company Building.
Tell us why?
First off, I am huge fan of Louis Sullivan’s work and thought process for architectural design. In my viewpoint, he was a master at what he did and his architectural style was a pivotal point during the modern era. He gave static material that would be seen as hard and cold, a new organic movement that flowed throughout his buildings. Secondly, the building is simply amazing with the amount of detail on the interior and exterior. A pure gem of the city!
Congratulations to Toonen-Talamo not only on an event’s success but also on echoing the founders of Landmark Illinois who came together in response to the tragic loss of Louis Sullivan’s Old Stock Exchange Building in Chicago in 1972.
Emilio Padilla representing 2019 Summer Mixer Partner, Arquitectos Chicago
The historic, 94-year-old Hartmann Building has been transformed into The Alfred, featuring a rooftop patio
Isidro Carreon, Evan Austin, Camille Loudenback, Thomas Kane, Brian Mathus, Jacob Stellwagen all from Landmarks Illinois Corporate Sponsor Klein and Hoffman, with Stephanie Mathus of Kellermeyer Godfryt Hart, PC
Mark Heffron of Cedar Street Companies
Jennifer Johnson and Smith Vasan (L-R) representing 2019 Summer Mixer Partner, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)
Matt Seymour, Skyline Council members Chelsea Medek and Erika Block, Amy Seymour and Justin Kreindler
Skyline Council members Youngjun Kim, Carl Klein and Allison Toonen-Talamo with Nicole Hovest
Eric Allix Rogers, James “Andy” Pierce, Krista Weir and AJ LaTrace
The Alfred sits in the heart of Chicago’s Loop at 30 E. Adams St., providing great views of the city skyline from the rooftop patio
For more about Landmarks Illinois visit landmarks.org
Photo Credit: Lewis Purdy,
