After years of planning for a new $60 million athletics facility, DePaul University agreed to landmark two of its historic buildings, Cortelyou Commons and Byrne Hall, as part of a strategic compromise. This decision secures the future of these venerable structures within the Lincoln Park campus, weaving historical assets into modern campus plans.
DePaul sought to modernize its campus with new facilities, yet ultimately embraced historic preservation to advance its development agenda. This isn't just a local skirmish; it's a growing trend where institutions use preservation as a bargaining chip. DePaul's strategic embrace of landmark status for Cortelyou Commons and Byrne Hall, tied to its $60 million athletics facility, reveals a new playbook for urban developers: preservation as a tool, not just an obstacle.
The Newly Designated Landmarks
- DePaul University's Cortelyou Commons and Byrne Hall in Lincoln Park were designated as official Chicago landmarks, according to Chicago.
- Cortelyou Commons functions as a dining hall and event space, completed in 1930, according to WBEZ.
- The building is a 96-year-old Collegiate Gothic structure on the DePaul University campus, as reported by Block Club Chicago.
These buildings, now formally recognized, embody a significant historical and architectural legacy within the DePaul campus. Their designation ensures their enduring place in Chicago's architectural narrative.
A Compromise for Progress
DePaul University supported landmark designation for Byrne Hall and Cortelyou Commons as a direct trade-off. This agreement specifically advanced a preservation measure related to the university's planned $60 million athletics facility, according to Block Club Chicago. The clear link between preliminary landmark status and a major development shows how historic preservation, often seen as a roadblock, can become a calculated accelerant when institutions wield it strategically.
