Editing Unity Temple (section)

{{Short description|Church in Oak Park, Illinois}}
{{About|the Unitarian temple in Oak Park|the religious organization founded in 1889|Unity Church|other temples|Unity (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Unity Temple
| image = File:Oak Park Il Unity Temple8.jpg
| caption =
| location = 875 [[Lake Street (Chicago)|Lake Street]]<br />[[Oak Park, Illinois]]
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q1680814|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Chicago#Illinois#USA
| built = 1905–1908
| architect = [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]
| architecture = [[Prairie style]]; [[Modern architecture|Modern]]
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| area = {{cvt|0.5|acre}}
| governing_body = Private
| designation1 = WHS
| designation1_partof = [[The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright]]
| designation1_date = [[List of World Heritage Sites by year of inscription#2019 (43rd session)|2019]] <small>(43rd [[World Heritage Committee|session]])</small>
| designation1_criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii)}}(ii)
| designation1_number = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1496 1496-001]
| designation1_free1name = Region
| designation1_free1value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in North America|North America]]
| designation2 = NRHP
| designation2_date = April 17, 1970<ref name="nris" />
| designation2_number = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/70000240 70000240]<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a }}</ref>
| designation3 = NHL
| designation3_date = December 30, 1970<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=920&ResourceType=Building |title=Unity Temple |access-date=July 22, 2008 |work=National Historic Landmark summary listing |publisher=National Park Service }}</ref>
}}

'''Unity Temple''' is a [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist]] church building that houses the '''Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation''' at 875 [[Lake Street (Chicago)|Lake Street]] in [[Oak Park, Illinois]], United States. The structure, designed by the architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] in the [[Prairie style]], is cited as an early example of [[modern architecture]].<ref name="The Manchester Guardian 1939" /> The building consists of an auditorium to the north and a church house called Unity House to the south. The two sections, and an entrance pavilion between them, are all made of [[reinforced concrete]].

The [[Church (congregation)|congregation]] was formed as the '''Unity Church of Oak Park''' in 1871. It originally occupied a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] building and went through several pastors in its first two decades. Rodney Johonnot, who became the senior pastor in 1892, began planning a replacement structure in the early 1900s. After the original church burned down in 1905, the board of trustees selected a site on Lake Street and hired Wright to design a new building, Unity Temple. Wright's plans were approved in 1906 after much debate, and construction began on May 15 of that year. After various delays, Unity House opened in September 1907, and the auditorium was finished in October 1908; the church was dedicated on September 26, 1909. Over the years, the temple attracted visitors from around the U.S. and worldwide. The church was restored in the 1960s, and it gradually underwent further upgrades from the 1970s to the 2000s. Unity Temple was completely refurbished from 2015 to 2017.

The temple is decorated with abstract motifs instead of overtly religious imagery. The facade is made of [[Portland cement]], which has been washed away to expose the gravel underneath; there are recessed [[clerestory]] windows near the top. Unlike contemporary churches, Unity Temple was designed without a spire; instead, the roof consists of multiple flat, overhanging concrete slabs. The auditorium is shaped like a [[Greek cross]], with stair towers at each corner. It has two levels of seating surrounding a central [[pulpit]], in addition to clerestories and [[skylight]]s. Unity House has skylights and two balconies.

Unity Temple has received extensive architectural commentary over the years, and it has been the subject of many media works, including books and museum exhibits. Its design is credited with having helped inspire multiple architects. Unity Temple is designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]] and is part of [[The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright]], a [[World Heritage Site]].