Editing Unity Temple (section)

== Temple development ==
The original Unity Church was destroyed on June 4, 1905, when a lightning strike started a blaze;<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 5, 1905 |title=Lightning Destroys Churches |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-lightning-destroys-c/164189020/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Pittsburgh Post |pages=5 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=June 5, 1905 |title=Three Churches Struck by Bolts |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-three-churches-struck-by/164114437/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=5 }}</ref><ref name="The Inter Ocean 1905">{{Cite news |date=June 5, 1905 |title=Lightning Causes Destructive Fires |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-inter-ocean-lightning-causes-destruc/164114411/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=The Inter Ocean |pages=3 }}</ref> firefighters were unable to extinguish the flames because of low water pressure.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 101" /><ref name="Siry p. 70; Sokol p. 18" /> The fire caused about $20,000 in damage<ref name="The Inter Ocean 1905" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=20000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} and destroyed everything except for the piano, chairs, paintings, dishes, and utensils.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=19 }}</ref> Within one week, the congregation had appointed four committees to oversee fundraising, site selection, design, and construction.<ref name="Siry pp. 70—71; Sokol pp. 20–21">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|pages=70–71}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=20–21 }}</ref><ref name="Oak Leaves pp. 101–102">{{harvnb|Oak Leaves April 27, 1907|ps=.|pages=101–102 }}</ref> In the meantime, the congregation temporarily met at Nakama Hall.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 101" /><ref name="Sokol p. 25">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=25 }}</ref> The nearby First Baptist Church also hosted some of the congregation's events.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 101" />

=== Selection of site and architect ===
[[File:Oak park unity temple.jpg|thumb|The temple as seen from Lake Street and Kenilworth Avenue]]

Initially, it was estimated that the new building would cost $50,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1905 |title=Building Notes of the Week |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-inter-ocean-building-notes-of-the-we/164301867/ |access-date=January 30, 2025 |work=The Inter Ocean |pages=22 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=50000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The fundraising committee requested donations from various sources,<ref name="Sokol p. 22">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=22 }}</ref> while the site selection committee recommended that the new temple be built "in some place more central".<ref name="Siry pp. 70—71; Sokol pp. 20–21" /> At the time, two-thirds of the congregation lived south of Lake Street, but congregants favored a site near that street; only one person preferred to keep the existing site.<ref name="Sokol pp. 23–24">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=23–24 }}</ref> The committee considered several locations throughout the village.<ref name="Sokol pp. 23–24" /><ref name="Siry p. 71" /> Two of these sites were located at Lake Street and Kenilworth Avenue: a private house on the southwestern corner, and a vacant lot owned by Gale on the southeastern corner.<ref name="Siry p. 71">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=71 }}</ref> In early August 1905, the congregation paid Gale $10,000<ref name="Siry p. 71" /><ref name="Sokol p. 24">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=24 }}</ref> or $11,000.<ref name="Oak Leaves pp. 101–102" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to between ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=10000|r=-3|fmt=c}} and ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=11000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The tract measured {{Convert|150|ft}} along Kenilworth Avenue and either {{Convert|100|ft}}<ref name="Siry p. 71" /> or {{Convert|105|ft}} along Lake Street.<ref name="Sokol p. 24" /> The site complemented the nearby First Presbyterian and Grace Episcopal churches slightly to the west.<ref name="Siry p. 71" /><ref name="Sokol p. 25" />

When the site was selected, the congregation had raised $30,000 toward the new building,<ref name="Sokol p. 25" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=30000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} and they began searching for an architect shortly afterward.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=71}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=26 }}</ref> On August 30, the planning committee met with nine architects, selecting four finalists: Frank Lloyd Wright, [[Dwight H. Perkins (architect)|Dwight H. Perkins]], [[William Augustus Otis]], and [[Normand Smith Patton]].<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|pages=71–72}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=28 }}</ref> At their September meeting, Unity Church's board of trustees voted to allow the planning committee to select an architect.<ref name="Sokol p. 37" /> This person was to draw up plans for an edifice costing no more than $30,000.<ref name="Sokol p. 37">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=37 }}</ref><ref name="Siry p. 74">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=74 }}</ref>

Wright had been selected by mid-September.<ref name="Siry p. 73">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=73 }}</ref><ref name="Sokol p. 39">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=39 }}</ref><ref name="The Construction News 1905">{{Cite news |date=September 23, 1905 |title=Chicago |work=The Construction News |page=235 |volume=20 |issue=13 |id={{ProQuest|128406218}} }}</ref> The engineer [[Charles E. Roberts]], who led the church's building committee, had influenced the church's decision to select Wright.<ref name="Siry p. 73" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 1957c">{{cite web |date=June 27, 1957 |title=The Frank Lloyd Wright Legend |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011955-12311959&e=universalist%20church&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19570627_english_30&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |pages=30, [https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011955-12311959&e=universalist%20church&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19570627_english_31&df=1&dt=10 31] |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref> According to Wright, the board had considered hosting an [[architectural design competition]] (which he would have refused to join),<ref name="Oak Leaves 1957c" /><ref>{{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=152 }}</ref> but the historian [[Joseph Siry]] writes that there is no evidence that the board ever considered such a competition.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=38 }}</ref> ''[[Construction News (American publication)|Construction News]]'' reported that the temple would cost $35,000 and would be a one-story, brick-and-stone edifice.<ref name="The Construction News 1905" /><ref name="Siry p. 108">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=108 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=35000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Though Wright may have considered using brick, this was never recorded in his plans.<ref name="Siry p. 108" /><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=61 }}</ref> Wright instead proposed using concrete to save money,<ref name="Siry p. 108" /><ref name="Wright p. 154">{{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=154 }}</ref><ref name="Saint p. 162">{{harvnb|Saint|2003|ps=.|page=162 }}</ref> since, at the time, the church had only $45,000 on hand.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /><ref name="Siry p. 108" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 1964a">{{cite web |date=June 25, 1964 |title=Unity Church Draws Architects to Village |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011963-12311966&e=unity%20church&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19640625_english_7&df=1&dt=9 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=7 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=45000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The temple was the first public building that Wright designed by himself.<ref name="Jeffrey b0492">{{cite news |last=Jeffrey |first=Laura Stassi |date=May 3, 2009 |title=Oak Park, Ill.: A Village Two American Icons Called Home |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/travel/2009/05/03/oak-park-ill-a-village-two-american-icons-called-home/66de3e9c-9759-43f0-9308-c0dc2a136782/ |access-date=February 8, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 }}</ref>

=== Design ===
==== Original plans ====
The trustees mandated that the new house of worship include a [[sanctuary]] for worship, a meeting room for secular events, and a classroom for the Sunday school.<ref name="Siry p. 74" /><ref name="Siry pp. 81–83">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=81, 83 }}</ref> Furthermore, as Lake Street was a major street, Wright had to design a monumental building that would also fit the church's budget.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1957c" /> Many of the original drawings have been lost or destroyed,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /> but Wright extensively documented his thought process in his autobiography.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hansen |first=Harry |date=April 6, 1932 |title=The First Reader |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-virginian-pilot-the-first-readerhar/164619262/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=The Virginian-Pilot |pages=6 }}</ref> Wright wrote that Johonnot had wanted a "Mission"-style building,<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=|page=40}}; {{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=153 }}</ref> and he avoided traditional [[church architecture]], instead proposing to the planning committee a "temple to man ... in which to study man himself for his God's sake".<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=74}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=|page=40}}; {{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|pages=153–154 }}</ref><ref name="Sawyers y222">{{cite web |last=Sawyers |first=June |date=August 16, 1991 |title=The Wright Oak Park Legacy |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/08/16/the-wright-oak-park-legacy/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 }}</ref> In the early plans, the temple's northern wall was aligned with the house to the east (which was set back {{Convert|40|ft}} from Lake Street), and the north–south axis was aligned with the house to the south.<ref name="Siry pp. 81–83" /> Wright created physical drawings only after extensively refining the plans mentally.<ref>{{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=158 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=83 }}</ref> He also produced a plaster model of the temple, which he presented to the planning committee.<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=41–43 }}</ref>

The entrance to the main sanctuary, known as the auditorium, was intentionally positioned away from the streetcar lines on Lake Street.<ref name="Siry pp. 81–83" /><ref name="Wright pp. 154–155" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 1957b">{{cite web |date=November 21, 1957 |title=Frank Lloyd Wright in Surprise Visit to Village |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011955-12311959&e=universalist%20church&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19571121_english_6&df=1&dt=10 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=6 |via=River Forest Public Library }}</ref> Wright did not want to put the meeting room and Sunday school in the auditorium, as he felt that it would "spoil the simplicity of the room".<ref name="Wright pp. 154–155" /><ref name="Sokol p. 59">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=59 }}</ref> Accordingly, these rooms were instead placed in a separate church house called Unity House,<ref name="Siry pp. 81–83" /><ref name="Wright pp. 154–155">{{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|pages=154–155 }}</ref><ref name="Sokol p. 59" /> which was linked to the auditorium by a central entrance hall.<ref name="Siry pp. 81–83" /><ref>{{harvnb|National Park Service|1970|ps=.|page=4 }}</ref> Having decided upon the site layout, Wright next designed the cube-shaped auditorium.<ref name="Siry pp. 96–97">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=96–97 }}</ref> Some preliminary drawings for the auditorium still exist. These include Scheme A, which called for 388 seats facing a pulpit on the south wall, and the rejected Scheme B, which called for 478 seats facing the north wall.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=101–103 }}</ref>

==== Design changes ====
[[File:Unity Temple - Oak Park IL 16 (3224994948).jpg|thumb|The auditorium's skylights]]

In December 1905, the planning committee received Wright's plans and recommended that the board of trustees approve them.<ref name="Siry p. 74" /><ref name="Sokol p. 39" /> The same month, Gale gave the congregation a {{Convert|20|ft|4=-wide|adj=mid}} strip of land on Kenilworth Avenue.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=80 }}</ref> By the beginning of 1906, the site of the original building had been sold for $6,500.<ref name="Sokol p. 45" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=6500|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The congregation decided to proceed with construction, even though it had received only one bid for the general contract, which exceeded the church's budget by $8–10 thousand.<ref name="Sokol p. 45">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=45 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=127 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=8|r=0|fmt=c}}–{{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=10|r=0|fmt=c}} thousand in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Thomas Skillin, who led the board of trustees, reported that the temple was to cost $40,000 but that there was only $31,000 available.<ref name="Sokol p. 47">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=47 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=127–128 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|The cost was equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=40000|r=-3|fmt=c}}, while the money on hand was equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=31000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The trustees considered modifying the plans, splitting work into two phases, or borrowing money.<ref name="Sokol p. 47" /> Wright offered to reduce the cost to $35,000{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=35000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} by revising the plans and deferring installation of the furnishings.<ref name="Siry p. 128">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=128 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=51 }}</ref>

Skillin objected that the auditorium was too small and dark.<ref name="Cypret 1975b">{{Cite news |last=Cypret |first=Randy |date=July 24, 1975 |title=Unity designed to solve problems |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-unity-designed-to-solve-pro/164860702/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=News Journal |pages=33 }}</ref><ref name="Siry p. 128; Sokol p. 52" /> At its meeting on January 18, 1906, the board asked Skillin and Johonnot to discuss possible modifications with Wright.<ref name="Siry p. 128; Sokol p. 52">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=128}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=52 }}</ref> Subsequently, Wright revised the auditorium's design,<ref name="Siry pp. 129—130; Sokol pp. 52–54">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|pages=129–130}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=52–54 }}</ref> and he invited 75 members of the congregation to see the drawings and models for Unity Temple at his studio.<ref name="Siry p. 128" /><ref name="Oak Leaves 19910807">{{cite web |last=Guarino |first=Jean |date=August 7, 1991 |title=Wright community never materialized |url=https://riverforest.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&d=01011991-12311992&e=unity%20temple&m=between&ord=e1&fn=forest_leaves_usa_illinois_oak_park_19910807_english_81&df=11&dt=20 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=Oak Leaves |page=81 }}</ref> The board approved Wright's revisions on February 7,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /><ref name="Siry pp. 129—130; Sokol pp. 52–54" /> on the condition that no more than $36,200 be spent.<ref name="Siry pp. 129—130; Sokol pp. 52–54" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1905|index=US-GDP|value=36200|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Details of the design were reported in the local media on February 24,<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=130}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=55 }}</ref> and a brochure describing the final plan was published on March 4.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=56 }}</ref> Wright's assistant [[Charles E. White Jr.]] said the planning process had been marked by "endless fighting".<ref name="Siry p. 130">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=130 }}</ref><ref name="Schrenk p. 151">{{harvnb|Schrenk|2021|ps=.|page=151 }}</ref> Wright continued refining the design details even after the final plans were accepted and (in some cases) partially completed.<ref name="Siry p. 137">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=137 }}</ref> Despite initial objections to Wright's design, Oak Park residents eventually came to like it.<ref name="Oak Leaves 19910807" />

=== Construction ===
==== Early construction ====
It took weeks to find a [[general contractor]].<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=138}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=75}}; {{harvnb|Wright|2005|ps=.|page=159 }}</ref> Most of the bids that church officials did receive were significantly over budget, probably because of the unconventional nature of the concrete design,<ref name="Siry p. 138">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=138 }}</ref> which drove many contractors away.<ref name="Oak Leaves 1964a" /> Contractors found it difficult to decipher Wright's plans, which did not resemble standard blueprints.<ref name="Siry p. 138" /> Paul Mueller, who had previously built Wright's [[E-Z Polish Factory]] and [[Larkin Administration Building]],<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=138}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=76 }}</ref> was ultimately selected as the contractor.<ref name="Siry p. 139; Sokol p. 77">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=139}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=77 }}</ref><ref name="Saint p. 163">{{harvnb|Saint|2003|ps=.|page=163 }}</ref> Wright and Mueller began discussing the temple in January 1906,<ref name="Siry p. 138" /> and Mueller was hired that April, having submitted a low bid of $32,221.<ref name="Siry p. 139; Sokol p. 77" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1906|index=US-GDP|value=32221|r=3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The trustees agreed to pay Mueller $32,661 as long as Mueller paid a $15,000 [[Bond (finance)|bond]], which would be refunded if the temple was completed on time.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=78 }}</ref> The board also approved a $1,243.23 builder's fee for Wright.<ref name="Sokol p. 79">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=79 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1906|index=US-GDP|value=1243.23|r=0|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} A [[groundbreaking]] ceremony took place on May 15, 1906.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102">{{harvnb|Oak Leaves April 27, 1907|ps=.|page=102 }}</ref><ref name="Siry p. 139">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=139 }}</ref> One of Wright's draftsmen, [[Isabel Roberts]], acted as a liaison to church officials, while Arthur Tobin coordinated the construction schedules.<ref>{{harvnb|Schrenk|2021|ps=.|pages=151, 154 }}</ref>

The first part of the temple to be constructed was Unity House.<ref name="Siry p. 157">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=157 }}</ref> Work on the foundation progressed slowly, and the building committee had to allocate another $645.60 for the foundations due to cost overruns.<ref name="Sokol pp. 81–82" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1906|index=US-GDP|value=645.6|r=0|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Mueller was also busy with other projects across the United States, which further delayed the temple's construction.<ref name="Sokol pp. 81–82">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=81–82 }}</ref> The contractors acquired large amounts of wood to create the [[formwork]], into which the temple's concrete slabs were to be poured.<ref name="Sokol p. 80">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=80 }}</ref> The wooden forms were constructed to uniform dimensions of {{Convert|12|x|3.5|ft}}, allowing them to be reused;<ref name="Sokol p. 80" /><ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=140–141 }}</ref><ref name="Levine p. 40">{{harvnb|Levine|1996|ps=.|page=40 }}</ref> each timber form was made of several [[Lumber#Dimensional lumber|2-by-4]] boards.<ref name="Siry p. 140">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=140 }}</ref><ref name="Ferry p. 98">{{harvnb|Ferry|1907|ps=.|page=98 }}</ref> Rectangular blocks of wood were used to cast the facade's {{convert|12|ft|m|-tall|adj=mid}} concrete columns, which had to be cast in multiple pieces because they were too large.<ref name="Ferry p. 98" /><ref name="Siry p. 152">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=152 }}</ref> The various pieces of each column were bound together using [[grout]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ferry|1907|ps=.|page=99 }}</ref>

Wright contemplated embedding red granite or another material into the outer walls.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=143–144 }}</ref><ref name="Sokol p. 83">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=83 }}</ref> Twenty samples of concrete, embedded with red granite or gravel, were presented to the board of trustees for review.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=|page=144}}; {{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=84–85 }}</ref> Church officials decided not to use red granite due to the expense involved;<ref name="Sokol p. 83" /> instead, they agreed to apply an acidic solution to roughen the facade.<ref name="Siry p. 145">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=145 }}</ref> The concrete walls were poured at a rate of no more than {{Convert|18|in}} every 24 hours.<ref name="Sokol pp. 81–82" /><ref name="Siry p. 146">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=146 }}</ref> The walls were constructed one by one, and the wooden forms had to be disassembled and rebuilt after each wall was completed, which caused further delays.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=85 }}</ref> In addition, concrete could not be poured during the wintertime.<ref name="Oak Leaves p. 102" /> Foster & Glidden Co. were hired in September 1906 to install the electrical, plumbing, and [[Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning|heating and ventilation]] systems.<ref name="Sokol p. 86">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=86 }}</ref> Although Mueller's contract mandated that the temple be completed by November 1906,<ref name="Siry p. 139" /> the exterior was not nearly finished at that time.<ref name="Siry p. 157" /><ref name="Sokol p. 86" /> This prompted Edwin Ehrman, the building committee's leader, to complain to Mueller.<ref name="Siry p. 157" /><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=87 }}</ref> Furthermore, Wright frequently modified the plans while construction was underway, then tried to force the trustees to pay for the increased costs, to which they refused.<ref name="Sokol pp. 122–123" /> Mueller, who did not reject Wright's changes, lost money as a result<ref name="Sokol pp. 122–123">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=122–123 }}</ref> and eventually went bankrupt.<ref name="Schrenk p. 154" /><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=156 }}</ref>

==== Delays and completion ====
[[Image:Unity Temple Interior.jpg|thumb|One of the piers in Unity Temple's auditorium|alt=One of the square piers at the corner of Unity Temple's auditorium. The ceiling has square skylights with wooden boards at their borders. Hanging from the ceiling are chandeliers with globes and cubes.]]

The heating system was installed in February 1907.<ref name="Sokol p. 89">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=89 }}</ref> Amid increasing expenses and decreasing revenue, the congregation's general fund had dwindled to $11.31 by March,{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1907|index=US|value=11.31|r=0|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US}}{{inflation-fn|US|group=lower-alpha}}}} and many former members had departed.<ref name="Sokol p. 89" /> ''Oak Leaves'' wrote that "the finances were in good condition", despite a shortfall in the construction fund.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=95 }}</ref> By then, Wright wrote that Unity House would be finished in May and the auditorium in September.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=92 }}</ref> The eastern wall and parts of the auditorium's stair towers had been completed by May, but the roofs had not been constructed.<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=142 }}</ref> Church officials had resorted to borrowing money, despite a concerted attempt to obtain donations and other fees from the congregation.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=96–97 }}</ref> Unity House began hosting services on September 15, 1907,<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=99 }}</ref> and the church's Ladies Social Union purchased some furniture the same week.<ref name="Sokol p. 100">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=100 }}</ref> The auditorium's roof had been completed, but the terraces and entrance pavilion were still under construction,<ref>{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=169–170 }}</ref> and landscaping work was still ongoing.<ref name="Sokol p. 103">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=103 }}</ref> Congregants had to enter Unity House through the back door.<ref name="Sokol p. 149">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=149 }}</ref>

Wright and the contractors continued to fine-tune the building's heating system,<ref name="Sokol p. 103" /> and the contractors submitted [[invoice]]s for their work, which the congregation could not afford to pay.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=105–107 }}</ref> The project was paused in late 1907,<ref name="Siry p. 171">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=171 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=108 }}</ref> and Ehrman requested that Wright provide a timetable for Unity Temple's completion, which the architect did in January 1908.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=101–102 }}</ref> That February, Wright invited artists and musicians to attend a "Symposium of Art" at Unity House.<ref name="Siry p. 168">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=168 }}</ref> Wright wrote to the congregation the next month, requesting that Mueller be paid $11,000.<ref name="Siry p. 171" />{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1908|index=US-GDP|value=11000|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Congregants pledged $5,771 for the building's completion at their annual meeting the same month,<ref name="Sokol p. 111">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=111 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1908|index=US-GDP|value=5771|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} which allowed the trustees to finally reimburse Mueller.<ref name="Sokol p. 111" /><ref name="Siry p. 171" /> The plasterwork was completed in July 1908,<ref name="Siry p. 146" /> after the board of trustees had threatened to fire Mueller over his failure to finish the plastering.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=115 }}</ref> The temple's mechanical contractor [[Foster & Glidden]] were completing the building's electrical systems by August,<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=116 }}</ref> and the pews were under construction by that September.<ref name="Siry p. 171" /><ref name="Sokol pp. 119–120">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=119–120 }}</ref> All of the art glass had also been installed by then.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=120–121 }}</ref>

The auditorium's opening, scheduled for October 11, 1908, was postponed due to delays in manufacturing the pews.<ref name="Sokol pp. 119–120" /> The auditorium hosted its first service on October 25, 1908,<ref name="Schrenk p. 154">{{harvnb|Schrenk|2021|ps=.|page=154 }}</ref><ref name="Chicago Daily Tribune 1908">{{cite news |date=October 26, 1908 |title=Church Built of One Piece: Unity Temple at Oak Park Opens Structure Which is Like No Other Shrine in the World |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|173399990}} }}</ref> though Wright did not attend.<ref name="Cypret 1975b" /><ref name="Siry pp. 192–193" /> The building could not be formally dedicated because the organ had not been installed;<ref name="Chicago Daily Tribune 1908" /> church officials had received bids from a dozen organ manufacturers, many of whom were discouraged by Wright's abstruse drawings.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=124–125 }}</ref> The church did not hire a manufacturer until September 1908, when officials paid [[Coburn & Taylor]] $3,500 to install an organ in two months.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=131 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1908|index=US-GDP|value=3500|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} The heating system was also ineffective, and the boiler burst shortly after the auditorium opened,<ref name="Sokol pp. 138–139">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=138–139 }}</ref> forcing the congregation to vacate the auditorium until February 1909.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=143–144 }}</ref>

Construction issues notwithstanding, congregants quickly came to like the new temple.<ref name="Siry pp. 192–193">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|pages=192–193 }}</ref> By 1909, the congregation's membership consisted of more than 140 families.<ref name="Sokol p. 149" /><ref name="Siry p. 103">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=103 }}</ref> During that year, church officials largely resolved their remaining disputes with contractors, and the decorations inside were finished.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=153 }}</ref> Johonnot resigned that June, expressing frustration that he had received little encouragement from the congregation during his tenure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 7, 1909 |title=Rebukes Church; Pastor Resigns |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-rebukes-church-pastor-r/164532483/ |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=8 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|pages=150–151 }}</ref> Church members refused to accept his resignation,<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 12, 1909 |title=Force Pastor to Think Again |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-force-pastor-to-think-ag/164606912/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=3 }}</ref><ref name="Sokol p. 152">{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=152 }}</ref> as he was still popular among members of the congregation.<ref name="Sokol p. 152" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 8, 1909 |title=Members of Church Differ as to Pastor's Resignation |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-members-of-church-differ/164532255/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=6 }}</ref> Johonnot ultimately agreed to remain Unity Church's pastor for one more year.<ref name="Chicago Tribune 1910">{{Cite news |date=June 27, 1910 |title=Asks Favor for Successor |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-asks-favor-for-successor/164608046/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=7 }}</ref> The temple was officially dedicated on September 26, 1909,<ref name="McCarter2 p. 10" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 27, 1909 |title=Unity Church Is Dedicated |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-unity-church-is-dedicate/164532299/ |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=Chicago Tribune |issn=1085-6706 |pages=14 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=September 27, 1909 |title=Temperance Theme of Many Sermons |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-inter-ocean-temperance-theme-of-many/164312755/ |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=The Inter Ocean |pages=4 }}</ref> and the congregation published a brochure for the occasion.<ref>{{harvnb|Sokol|2008|ps=.|page=155 }}</ref> The temple had cost $60,344.55, and the congregation borrowed some $14,500 to pay for the cost overruns.<ref name="Siry p. 193">{{harvnb|Siry|1996|ps=.|page=193 }}</ref>{{Efn-ur|The final cost is equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1909|index=US-GDP|value=60344.55|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}. The congregation borrowed the equivalent of ${{inflation|start_year=1909|index=US-GDP|value=14500|r=-3|fmt=c}}.{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Members pledged two-thirds, or nearly $32,200, of the remaining cost,{{Efn-ur|Equivalent to ${{inflation|start_year=1909|index=US-GDP|value=32200|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} though it would take several years before the construction cost was fully repaid.<ref name="Siry p. 193" />