LECTURE: Shop Til You Drop, Modernist Storefronts | Anthony Rubano
Join Chicago-based historian Anthony Rubano for a evening talk exploring the development of Modernist Storefront Architecture. The economic prosperity of Post-WWII America brought many changes to America’s Main Streets. Some were small, like the installation of a single open-front storefront, while others were more sweeping, such as the conversion of an entire downtown into a pedestrian mall. Understanding how these resources fit into the larger contexts of Modern architecture and modern consumerism is critical to fostering an appreciation for them. Significant in their own right, these installations continue to tell important stories about their districts’ evolution. This presentation examines how Main Street’s architecture evolved in the mid 20th century and looks at some of the preservation challenges that they face. Anthony Rubano is a Project Designer at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. He has worked extensively with the Illinois Main Street Program within IHPA, where he provides architectural services to almost 70 historic Main Street communities throughout the State. He reviews proposed changes to historic Illinois properties under a variety of state and national programs, and he has consulted across the country on preservation and Main Street design issues. In 2006 and 2007, his work, along with that of his 4 colleagues, garnered awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, and the Illinois chapter of the American Institute of Architects. A part-time faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he has taught the history of American architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Anthony earned a Master of Architecture with an emphasis on architectural history and preservation from the University of Illinois.