The Cliff Dwellers and the Chicago Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, in co-sponsorship with the Friends of Downtown and the Chicago Chapter of the AIA, are pleased to present another in their series of architectural events on Tuesday February 25, 2020: Phyllis Ellin and Barbara Gordon present, “The inscription of ‘The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright’ on the World Heritage List.”
Phyllis Ellin and Barbara Gordon will describe the lengthy effort that finally resulted in the inclusion of eight works by Frank Lloyd Wright on the UNESCO World Heritage List last year. They will discuss what this listing -- the only one for American modern architecture -- means, and will explain the basis for selecting the eight buildings and the specific justification that was needed to place the works in a global context to meet the World Heritage criteria.
Phyllis Ellin is a contract historian and architectural historian for the U.S. National Park Service’s Office of International Affairs, for the World Heritage program. She has guided the preparation of several U.S. nominations and has served on U.S. delegations to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee since 2008. Prior to her retirement from the agency, she worked on a variety of history and partnership projects, and was Executive Director of the federal commission for the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. She served on the Commission on Chicago Landmarks from 2001-2011.
Barbara Gordon is the Executive Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, which is the only organization dedicated to facilitating the preservation and stewardship of the remaining built works designed by Frank Lloyd Wright through advocacy, education and technical services. The Conservancy was responsible for the coordination of the nomination of eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings to the World Heritage list. A resident of Oak Park, Gordon was employed from 1994 to 2015 by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, her last position as Vice President of Program Operations.
Additional Info:
Cocktails: Cash bar opens at 4:30 p.m.
Free Program: Begins 6:15 p.m.
Dinner: Available after the program, a la carte.
Reservations for dinner are requested: reservations@cliff-chicago.org or call 312-922-8080. Discount parking is available after 4:00 at the garage located at 17 E. Adams – enter on Adams between Wabash and State. Ask for a discount coupon at the check-in desk.