Editing Unity Temple (section)

==== 2010s to present ====
[[File:Unity Temple.JPG|thumb|Interior of the auditorium, facing the pulpit|alt=Interior of the auditorium as seen from the balcony. There is a wooden pulpit near the wall at the far end. Stairs ascend and descend on either side of the pulpit.]]

Most of the letters from the sign above Unity Temple's main entrance were stolen in 2010, shortly after the roof was replaced for $500,000.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Century-Old Bronze Letters Stolen off Unity Temple |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/local/landmark-unity-temple-oak-park-stolen-letters/2088849/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=NBC Chicago |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Thieves Steal Bronze Lettering Off Historic Temple |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/46691/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=CBS Chicago }}</ref> After the congregation raised $3,000 to replace the letters,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jaworski |first=Jim |date=October 27, 2011 |title=Stolen Unity letters expected to be replaced |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-stolen-unity-letters-exp/165015637/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=0.3 }}</ref> a local preservation firm installed a new sign above the entrance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Malina |first=Amy |date=February 9, 2021 |title=Victory over the elements |url=https://www.forestparkreview.com/2012/08/14/victory-over-the-elements/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=Forest Park Review }}</ref> The [[Alphawood Foundation]] pledged $10 million toward the temple's restoration in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lothson |first=Anna |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Chicago foundation pledges $10 million toward Unity Temple restoration |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2013/05/15/chicago-foundation-pledges-0-million-toward-unity-temple-restoration/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Deal reached to restore Frank Lloyd Wright temple in Oak Park |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-taylorville-daily-breeze-courier-dea/165017142/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |work=The Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier |pages=5 |agency=Associated Press }}</ref><ref name="Bentley o054">{{cite web |last=Bentley |first=Chris |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Unity Temple Congregation May Yield Ownership in Costly Restoration Campaign |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2013/05/unity-temple-congregation-may-yield-ownership-in-costly-restoration-campaign/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Architect's Newspaper }}</ref> The congregation also considered transferring ownership of the temple to Alphawood so that organization could help maintain the building.<ref name="Bentley o054" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2013 |title=Unity Temple ownership could change hands |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/05/24/unity-temple-ownership-could-change-hands/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |last=Bey |first=Lee |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Congregation mulls yielding ownership of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed church |url=https://www.wbez.org/culture/2013/05/15/congregation-mulls-yielding-ownership-of-frank-lloyd-wright-designed-church |access-date=January 29, 2025 |publisher=WBEZ }}</ref> By early 2015, the Restoration Foundation had about $11.5 million<ref name="Mullen s067">{{cite web |last=Mullen |first=Caitlin |date=August 3, 2015 |title=Dust flying as Unity Temple restoration gets fully underway |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/08/03/dust-flying-as-unity-temple-restoration-gets-fully-underway/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> or $12.5 million on hand.<ref name="Hernandez z123">{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Alex V. |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Unity Temple congregation finds new home as renovation nears |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/03/23/unity-temple-congregation-finds-new-home-as-renovation-nears/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-unity-temple-finds-new-h/165017378/ TAB-16] }}</ref> Restorers drew up detailed plans to repaint the building, restore the original architectural features, and repair mechanical systems; the plans needed approval from three agencies before renovations could start.<ref name="Mullen s067" />

A full restoration began in 2015,<ref name="Johnson o698" /><ref name="Inklebarger t044">{{cite web |last=Inklebarger |first=Timothy |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Unity Temple under wraps as restoration begins |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2015/06/23/unity-temple-under-wraps-as-restoration-begins/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal }}</ref> at which point the project was to cost $23 million<ref name="Johnson o698" /> or $25 million.<ref name="Inklebarger t044" /> The congregation relocated that June;<ref name="Johnson o698" /><ref name="Inklebarger t044" /> services were hosted in the nearby United Lutheran Church, while church officials also used an administrative office on South Boulevard and another office nearby.<ref name="Hernandez z123" /> The first phase of the project involved replacing the skylights, roof, and shotcrete facade. A second phase included the geothermal and HVAC system, new art glass, and new light fixtures.<ref name="Inklebarger t044" /> The windows were restored in California, and new electric wiring, glass, and wood finishes were added.<ref name="CBS Chicago 2017 o792">{{cite web |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Unity Temple Reopens After Multi-Million Dollar Renovations |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/unity-temple-renovations-frank-lloyd-wright/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=CBS Chicago }}</ref> The project was supposed to be completed in late 2016<ref name="Mullen s067" /> but was postponed by several months because of restorers' focus on architectural details.<ref name="Mullen o997">{{cite web |last=Mullen |first=Caitlin |date=November 29, 2016 |title=Unity Temple restoration now expected to be complete in March |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/11/29/unity-temple-restoration-now-expected-to-be-complete-in-march/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> The congregation bought the nearby Oak Park Billiards building at South Boulevard in 2016, which was also renovated.<ref name="Mullen o997" /><ref>{{cite web |date=September 28, 2016 |title=Oak Park Church to Sell Iconic Billiards Tables |url=https://news.wttw.com/2016/09/28/oak-park-church-sell-iconic-billiards-tables |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=WTTW News |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |last=Inklebarger |first=Timothy |date=October 4, 2016 |title=Unity Temple to open offices, classrooms in old pool hall |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2016/10/04/unity-temple-to-open-offices-classrooms-in-old-pool-hall/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal }}</ref>

Following a preview event in May 2017 to mark the renovation's completion,<ref name="Gauer x647" /><ref name="CBS Chicago 2017 o792" /> the temple formally reopened on June 17, 2017,<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Sean |date=June 18, 2017 |title=Frank Lloyd Wright's newly-restored Unity Temple reopens its doors |url=https://wgntv.com/news/frank-lloyd-wrights-newly-restored-unity-temple-reopens-its-doors/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |publisher=WGN-TV }}</ref> and tours resumed that July.<ref>{{cite web |last=Koziarz |first=Jay |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's restored Unity Temple starting this weekend |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/6/29/15881910/frank-lloyd-wright-unity-temple-tours |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Curbed Chicago }}</ref><ref name="Dechter 2017">{{cite web |last=Dechter |first=Felicia |date=July 2, 2017 |title=Column: Unity Temple tours to showcase renovation work |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/07/02/column-unity-temple-tours-to-showcase-renovation-work/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> About half of the construction cost had been raised at the time.<ref name="Hindery h568">{{cite web |last=Hindery |first=Rachel K. |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Unity Temple officials on restoration of 'internationally iconic' Frank Lloyd Wright building |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/05/26/unity-temple-officials-on-restoration-of-internationally-iconic-frank-lloyd-wright-building/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> After a developer proposed a 28-story tower nearby in 2018, the church's board of trustees expressed concerns that the tower would cast shadows on the temple;<ref>{{cite web |last=Inklebarger |first=Timothy |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Unity Temple congregation opposes Golub tower |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2018/12/19/unity-temple-congregation-opposes-golub-tower/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |last=Schering |first=Steve |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Expressing 'serious concerns,' Unity Temple board announces opposition to proposed 28-story development |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/12/18/expressing-serious-concerns-unity-temple-board-announces-opposition-to-proposed-28-story-development/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> the tower was eventually canceled.<ref>{{cite web |last=Inklebarger |first=Timothy |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Golub pulls plans for 28-story high-rise |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2019/03/22/golub-pulls-plans-for-28-story-high-rise/ |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal }}</ref> Alan Taylor resigned as Unity Temple's senior minister in 2021.<ref name="Holmes h818">{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=Tom |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Unity Temple's minister, Alan Taylor, leaving after 18 years |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2021/04/09/unity-temples-minister-alan-taylor-leaving-after-18-years/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal }}</ref> Roger Bertschausen became the senior minister in 2023,<ref name="Holmes e727">{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=Tom |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Unity Temple welcomes a 'temporary/long term' leader |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2023/09/19/unity-temple-welcomes-a-temporary-long-term-leader/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal }}</ref> and the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation was dissolved that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Stacey |date=October 10, 2023 |title=The foundation designed to restore Unity Temple is dissolving |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2023/10/10/the-foundation-designed-to-restore-unity-temple-is-dissolving/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |website=Wednesday Journal |postscript=none}}; {{cite web |last=Pride |first=Ray |date=September 25, 2023 |title=Today In Culture, September 25, 2023: Unity Temple Foundation Closing |url=https://www.newcity.com/2023/09/25/today-in-culture-september-25-2023-unity-temple-foundation-closing-jeffs-to-honor-falls-more-nobodys-darling/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |website=Newcity }}</ref>