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Article: The trouble with terra-cotta
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- October 18, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1998 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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There was a time when Chicago made terra-cotta the way San Jose
turns out computer chips today.
About 30 companies - each with a small army of artisans and
craftsmen - churned out tons of the lovely decorative building
material between the 1880s and 1930.
Those terra-cotta companies are all gone now. Their work
remains, most notably ornate spectacles such as the Wrigley Building.
But the current concern over the loosening facade of the 75 E.
Wacker building illustrates that problems can arise behind the glaze
and ornament of terra-cotta. In some spots on the 70-year-old
building, the mortar and steel anchors that fasten terra-cotta have
weakened. Wacker Drive remains blocked in front ...