Preservation & Design Awards

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1 EVANSTON PRESERVATION COMMISSION Preservation & Design Awards 2018 Nomination Form The Evanston Preservation Commission is pleased to call for nominations for the 2018 Evanston Preservation & Design Awards. This program is aimed at recognizing property owners, architects, contractors and local organizations for their contribution to maintaining and enhancing the architectural, historical and cultural heritage of the City of Evanston through the following categories: Sensitive Addition, Appropriate New Construction, Proper Rehabilitation and Restoration. PROJECT ADDRESS OR NAME OF INDIVIDUAL BEING NOMINATED: (Please enter below) Shakespeare Garden, East of Sheridan Rd., North of Garrett, South of Technological Institute CATEGORY: (check appropriate categories) Sensitive Addition/Alteration: a project that successfully integrated an addition/alteration within the architectural style of a main house or building and complements the context and character of a historic district, neighborhood or a specific area within the City. Adaptive Reuse: a project that creatively achieved the adaptive reuse of an existing structure originally used for another purpose. The project must have undertaken at least substantial rehabilitation. Appropriate New Construction: A new house, building or structure that through its design and use of building materials enhances the quality of the built environment. The project must have a positive impact on its immediate surroundings, including historic district, neighborhood or a specific area within the City. X Proper Rehabilitation/Restoration: A project that has closely followed the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for The Treatment of Historic Properties and its Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Buildings (landmarks and non-landmark contributing/significant buildings city wide are also eligible) Innovative Solutions in Preservation: Showing sensitive and creative solutions incorporating issues of sustainability, adaptive reuse and integration of accessibility improvements. Life Achievement/Preservationist of the Year: This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the preservation movement for the benefit of the City of Evanston through his/her work or volunteerism. (continues next page) 1

2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Describe briefly and concisely the project's scope of work and important features. Include with your nomination BEFORE and AFTER digital pictures. Attach additional information on a separate sheet if necessary. Shakespeare Garden Enhancement Project in conjunction with the Garden Club of Evanston (GCE) Centennial Celebration. The GCE conceived the idea of designing and implementing a Shakespeare Garden on Northwestern University property in 1916 and secured the renowned Landscape Architect, Jens Jensen to design the garden. In 1988 the garden was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The University- as a gift to the GCE - funded this enhancement project to honor the Garden Club of Evanston s Centennial milestone. Enhancements included existing architectural stone and garden restoration, new stone benches with sundial plinth and plaque, new custom designed wood obelisks, new irrigation system, lighting for the garden, pathway restoration with upgrades. LIFE ACHIEVEMENT/PRESERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR DESCRIPTION: Describe or list the accomplishments, work, and achievements of the individual being nominated that have contributed to the historic preservation movement in Evanston and the reason(s) why the nominee deserves this award. Submit a digital photo portrait of the individual being nominated. Attach additional information on a separate sheet if necessary. (continues next page) 2

3 PROJECT'S: Beginning Date: Completion Date: Owner's Name: Northwestern University Phone: Mailing Address: 2020 Ridge Avenue, Suite 250 Evanston State: IL Zip Code: Garden Club of Evanston, Northwestern University, Hitchcock Design Group, Erin McNamara, Architect's Name: Peter Hugh Lighting Phone: Mailing Address: 2020 Ridge Ave. Suite 250 Evanston State: IL Zip Code: Rosborough Partners, Block Electric, Central Irrigation, Masonry by Fernando, Architectural Cast Stone Contractor's Name: Phone: a- Mailing Address: 2020 Ridge Ave. Suite 250 Evanston State: IL Zip Code: LIFE ACHIEVEMENT/PRESERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR: Nominee's Name: Phone: Mailing Address: State: Zip Code: NOMINATION SUBMITTED BY: Name: Phone: Andrew McGonigle Mailing Address: 2020 Ridge Ave. Suite 250 Evanston State: IL Zip Code: DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Please submit your completed nomination form in one PDF file and one hard copy, no later than Friday, April 6, 2018 by 5 pm to: Evanston Preservation & Design Awards c/o Carlos D. Ruiz, Senior Planner/preservation Coordinator, Community Development Department, Planning & Zoning Division, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 3201, Evanston, IL Phone (847) , Fax (847) , cruiz@cityofevanston.org IMPORTANT: Do not forget to include BEFORE and AFTER digital photos of the nominated project. 3

Preservation and Design Awards 2018 Shakespeare Garden Enhancement Shakespeare Garden Enhancement Project in conjunction with the Garden Club of Evanston Centennial Celebration.

4 Preservation and Design Awards 2018 Shakespeare Garden Enhancement Shakespeare Garden Enhancement Project in conjunction with the Garden Club of Evanston Centennial Celebration. The Garden Club of Evanston (GCE) conceived the idea of designing and implementing a Shakespeare Garden on Northwestern University property in 1916 and secured the renowned Landscape Architect, Jens Jensen to design the garden. In 1988 the garden was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The University - as a gift to the GCE - funded this enhancement project to honor the GCE s Centennial milestone. Enhancements included existing architectural stone and garden restoration, new stone benches with sundial plinth and plaque, new custom designed wood obelisks, new irrigation system, lighting for the garden, pathway restoration with upgrades. North campus. Category: Proper Rehabilitation/Restoration Address: Evanston Campus Owner: Northwestern University Design Team: Garden Club of Evanston, Northwestern University, Hitchcock Design Group, Erin McNamara, Peter Hugh Lighting Contractor Team: Rosborough Partners, Block Electric, Central Irrigation, Masonry by Fernando, Architectural Cast Stone Completion Date: 1 Spring 2016

5 flagstone walk hawthorn hedge new bench crushed stone path semicircular bench sundial tuteur perennials memorial new bench Shakespeare Garden Enhancements Jens Jensen s plan view drawing ( before, left) and watercolor rendering of the enhanced garden in The design team with artisans and multiple contractors restored the semicircular bench and memorial, repaired the sundial, added 2 new quarter-circular benches, wood obelisk, perennial plants, and crushed stone paths. 2

One of the significant enhancements to the garden was to add landscape lighting in order to extend and improve the visitors'

6 A watercolor perspective from the 1930s ( before, left) shows the daylight condition that was typical of how visitors experienced the garden. One of the significant enhancements to the garden was to add landscape lighting in order to extend and improve the visitors' experience. The lighting plan, on which this watercolor rendering ( after, right) was based, was inspired by A Midsummer Night s Dream and the magical transformation of the landscape into a garden where visitors and woodland fairies would feel at home.. 3

7 Shakespeare Garden before restoration. 4

8 Shakespeare Garden during construction. 5

9 The Shakespeare memorial fountain was dedicated in 1930 and has been the garden s eastern axial terminus ever since. The stone and bronze memorial features a bust of Shakespeare and quotations from As You Like It, A Midsummer Night s Dream, and The Winter s Tale. It was cleaned and restored as part of the enhancements. Stone seats were added to replace the wooden ones that had been installed years earlier. A moonlight fixture was suspended from a tree limb twenty feet above the memorial to cast a pool of soft light.. 6

10 The classical design of the memorial fountain is in keeping with the dignified nature of the garden. New stone seats provide a popular vantage point from which to survey the garden. During the restoration of the fountain, care was taken to maintain the bronze patina and other signs of age.. 7

11 The semicircular bench at the west end of the garden's long east-west axis was cleaned and restored as part of the enhancements. Its profile, details, and distinctive carving which was originally based on an Elizabethan-era embroidery pattern served as a model for the new quarter-circle benches, but the somewhat worn condition of the ornament would prove to be a challenge later. The flagstones were removed, repaired, and relaid during the enhancement process.. 8

12 The lighting enhancements included creating pools of lights around key elements of the garden along with ribbons of light leading one to the perimeter pathway. 9

The existing Memorial Fountain scroll work design was replicated as the inset scoll design on the new semi-circular benches. An Architectural Artisan made a clay mold of the repeat pattern.

13 The existing Memorial Fountain scroll work design was replicated as the inset scoll design on the new semi-circular benches. An Architectural Artisan made a clay mold of the repeat pattern. The Architectural Casting Company made a rubber mold from the clay relief sculpture. This mold was integrated into the back surface of each bench and cast with reconstituted architectural limestone.. 10

The new arc-shaped benches replaced earlier wooden ones that were unsustainable over time with periodic replacement and/or periodic significant

14 The new arc-shaped benches replaced earlier wooden ones that were unsustainable over time with periodic replacement and/or periodic significant maintenance. Recessed tape lights were added under the these new benches and also under the existing larger semi-circular west garden bench terminus. 11

New custom designed and built wood Obelisks for climbing Clematis were added to replace metal mass-produced versions that had been installed years earlier.

15 New custom designed and built wood Obelisks for climbing Clematis were added to replace metal mass-produced versions that had been installed years earlier. All garden enhancements followed the Shakespeare Elizabethan-era design vocabulary. Clay brick borders were re-set, new sod was laid, and new perennial plantings installed in areas disturbed by the lighting and irrigation installation.. 12

16 The verdant perennial beds and hedges, combined with restored site features and an intimate pedestrian scale, were further enhanced with night lighting. 13

17 The sundial pedestal was restored and the missing gnomon on the sundial was replaced. In addition at the base of the sundial pedestal a four-inchtall plinth was added along with a bronze inscription plaque on top. Within the plinth, four micro-spotlights were added to highlight the unique profile of the unique Architectural sundial pedestal.. 14

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Preservation & Design Awards

EVANSTON PRESERVATION COMMISSION Preservation & Design Awards 2018 Nomination Form The Evanston Preservation Commission is pleased to call for nominations for the 2018 Evanston Preservation & Design Awards.