Unity Temple - Oak Park, IL
Heritage Restoration was invited to bid and participate in the restoration of Unity Temple, designed by world renowned architect Frank Loyd Wright. This famous building is on several historic registers and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site applicant. It was Heritage Restoration's responsibility to restore all of the historic millwork in this building and replicate any missing components as needed.
Unity Temple Restoration Project Overview
Project Scope:
Door Manufacturing & Restoration
Custom Casework
Historic Millwork Restoration & Replication
Pew Restoration & Modification
Light Fixture Restoration & Replication
Dutchman Repairs
Custom Finish Matching
Millwork Cataloging
Onsite Refinishing & Touch-ups
"The 2017 Unity Temple restoration was a unique opportunity to exhibit our wood work and finishing expertise. We are delighted to have been part of this project and contribute towards the revitalization of this significant landmark in American architectural history.” Stephen Berlinger, Chief Operating Officer
Millwork Restoration & Replication
Unity Temple features an extensive system of architectural millwork. Heritage Restoration and Design was tasked with the removal, cataloging, and assessment of each uniquely identified molding component. Depending on condition, pieces were either cleaned, stripped, repaired, or replicated. Meticulous finish and grain matching ensured a consistent appearance throughout the space.
Light Fixtures
Wooden light fixtures were restored and retrofitted to meet modern UL code requirements. Non-original units lacking architectural value were replaced with new fixtures designed to match Frank Lloyd Wright’s original aesthetic. Coordination was required with architects, contractors, electricians, and lighting specialists throughout this phase.
Pew Restoration & Lighting Integration
The tiered balconies of the temple contained pews suffering from severe wear, including water damage and structural warping. Each pew was disassembled, labeled, and fully restored. In upper levels, Heritage modified pew end caps to incorporate low-profile, down-facing lighting to address visibility and safety concerns at night.
Unity House – Glass Wall & Cabinet Systems
In the Unity House’s upper-level classrooms, Heritage fabricated custom cabinetry to support new glass wall partitions with integrated roller blinds. These additions were carefully designed to preserve the architectural flow of the space while providing flexible room separation and light control.
Door Repair & Fabrication
Approximately 50 interior and exterior wood doors required restoration or replacement. Techniques included Dutchman patches and veneer repairs, along with complete reproduction where necessary. Doors were adjusted for airflow needs and refinished to maintain design continuity across the facility.
Onsite Finishing & Final Touches
After installation, Heritage’s artisans performed detailed onsite touch-ups and color blending to ensure seamless transitions between restored and existing components. Numerous site visits were made for pickup, delivery, and in-place restoration of components too delicate or complex to remove.
Featured Video
"It is our pleasure to share this unique insight into the Unity Temple restoration project. The staff at Heritage hopes that you find these videos to be informative. Enjoy!” Joseph Berlinger, Web Marketing and Video Manager
Note: This is an embedded youtube playlist. Alternatively it can be seen on our Youtube Page: Heritage Studio
Gallery
Webseries
Links to individual episodes of Heritage Restoration's webseries on the restoration of Unity Temple: