Facadism Redux: How Many Planners Does It Take to Skin a Landmark?

Apparently eight, if the Chicago Tribune’s story is any indication. The Chicago Commission on Landmarks voted to permit Prism Development Co. to extract the limestone facade of the 1920s Farwell Building (formerly the Terra Museum of American Art) on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The company would destruct the 11-story edifice, construct a new building and re-adhere the facade. In January the commission rejected Prism’s plans, but now they’ve changed their minds because they see no other way to rescue the Art Deco Farwell front, which is being held together by metal pins since the original framing has corroded.