If Charles Dickens were writing about the Illinois State Armory, he might call it “A Tale of Two Buildings.” The outside of the Armory, which takes up all of Second Street from Adams Street to Monroe Street, is a classic example of either Art Deco or Art Moderne/Neo-Classic architecture, depending on your interpretation. Historic preservationists say it is worthy of saving. But a recent tour of the building reveals just how much work will be needed to bring the inside of the structure, built in 1936, up to modern standards. Plumbing, wiring, air quality and handicapped accessibility are all inadequate, paint is peeling in many areas, and the building is wracked by other cosmetic problems. You can’t even drink the water. Behind a locked door in the Armory basement is a grid of high-voltage electrical equipment that could easily be a prop from a 1930s era “Frankenstein” film. Legend has it that the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago expressed interest in obtaining the grid for a display of historic electric apparatus. That story could not be verified, but the electrical system in the building certainly is substandard for modern offices that rely on computers and other electrical equipment. “The system is too small and too old for the load,” said Col. Greg Muller, state police deputy director for the division of administration, “When we occupied the building, it was running at over 90 percent capacity. It’s not supposed to run ...
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If Charles Dickens were writing about the Illinois State Armory, he might call it “A Tale of Two Buildings.” The outside of the Armory, which takes up all of Second Street from Adams Street to Monroe Street, is a classic example of either Art Deco or Art Moderne/Neo-Classic architecture, depending on your interpretation. Historic preservationists say it is worthy of saving. But a recent tour of the building reveals just how much work will be needed to bring the inside of the structure, built in 1936, up to modern standards. Plumbing, wiring, air quality and handicapped accessibility are all inadequate, paint is peeling in many areas, and the building is wracked by other cosmetic problems. You can’t even drink the water. Behind a locked door in the Armory basement is a grid of high-voltage electrical equipment that could easily be a prop from a 1930s era “Frankenstein” film. Legend has it that the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago expressed interest in obtaining the grid for a display of historic electric apparatus. That story could not be verified, but the electrical system in the building certainly is substandard for modern offices that rely on computers and other electrical equipment. “The system is too small and too old for the load,” said Col. Greg Muller, state police deputy director for the division of administration, “When we occupied the building, it was running at over 90 percent capacity. It’s not supposed to run ...