Chicago Church Finished $700,000 Window Restoration
The South Loop landmark restored its Tiffany glass to preserve institutional assets and heritage.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy
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In June 2026, the Second Presbyterian Church in Chicago returned a 134-year-old Tiffany stained-glass window to its sanctuary following a 14-month restoration project. This effort marks the completion of repairs for four of the church's 12 historic windows.
Why it matters
The $700,000 project addresses significant degradation from age, dirt, and grime that had previously obscured the architectural details of these assets. Maintaining such historic structures requires long-term capital campaigns and specialized technical interventions.
The restoration of the 16-foot by 8.5-foot window involved 12,000 pieces of glass and 1,000 rough-cut glass jewels. This work represents four of 12 total windows completed in a project costing $700,000.
The players
Second Presbyterian Church
A historic religious institution in Chicago's South Loop that manages a collection of 12 significant Tiffany stained-glass windows.
Marshall Field V
A prominent businessman and philanthropist who provided donor funding for the church's restoration campaign.
The details
The restoration process required technicians to remove and clean every individual piece of glass within the frame. Workers completely re-leaded the structure and replaced damaged sections with new material to stabilize the assembly. This level of intervention is necessary to reverse decades of environmental accumulation that concealed the original Tiffany designs.
Timeline
The original window was donated to the church in 1927.
The restoration campaign was officially announced in 2023.
The window was returned to the sanctuary in June 2026.
A celebration of the restoration took place on September 19, 2026.
The church will participate in Open House Chicago on October 17-18, 2026.
Market Landscape
Historic preservation projects in urban commercial districts often mirror corporate efforts to maintain high-value physical assets. The church's restoration follows the pattern of maintenance projects highlighted during the Open House Chicago annual event.
Operators overseeing historic properties should prioritize cleaning and re-leading schedules to avoid compounding damage from grime and age. Budgeting for these specialized, high-cost repairs requires long-term capital planning rather than reactive maintenance.
The takeaway
Large-scale restoration requires balancing historic preservation with massive capital outlays. Facility managers should track the condition of key architectural assets to determine if piecemeal repairs or full-scale overhauls are necessary to protect the value of their physical site.
Further reading
Learn more about local institutional giving and preservation efforts in Chicago Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Block Club Chicago.
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