Historic Renovations
Finished exterior of Victorian Italianate home
Finished exterior of Victorian Italianate home

Effective work in older buildings requires respect and understanding of historic architectural styles, materials, and construction techniques.

 

New Prairie Construction has prized the opportunity to renovate homes built in the 19th century and to work on both the 1857 Cattle Bank (believed to be the oldest commercial building in the county) and the 1914 Orpheum Theatre.

New Prairie’s historic restoration portfolio includes:

  • Restoring and rebuilding corbels on an 1874 homestead
  • Recasting curved plaster mouldings on the Orpheum Theatre ceiling
  • Repointing a solid masonry 19th-century home with historically-correct lime mortar
  • Working from old photographs to recreate architectural features, including cupolas, pergolas, and porch columns

Our staff seeks continual education on historic techniques and the importance of historically sensitive renovation and repair.  New Prairie is a frequent donor to and consumer of salvaged materials from our local Preservation and Conservation Association. 

To see our list of Heritage Awards, visit Awards.

 

Please browse our projects below, and click on any one to see more.

Victorian Italianate Homestead Phase 1: Restoration of outer building
Victorian Italianate before work begins Finished exterior of Victorian Italianate

Built in 1874, this house has seen many changes over the years.  New Prairie is working closely with the architect and homeowners to return it to its former glory. 

Click here to see and read more about this project.

Orpheum Theatre Auditorium
Orpheum Theatre auditorium before restoration Orpheum Theatre auditorium after restoration

Thanks to a grant from the National Park Service and the estate of a private donor, the Orpheum Theatre auditorium has undergone major restoration.  This massive job, which began in February, 2009, involved repairing or refabricating damaged plaster mouldings, beefing up framing, drywalling, and painting.  The restoration was celebrated with a wine gala in October, 2009.

 

Click here for more about this project.

Orpheum Children's Science Museum Lobby and Mezzanine
Newly rebuilt Orpheum stair banister Orpheum Theatre ceiling mouldings

New Prairie repaired or replaced all surfaces in the lobby and mezzanine areas and adapted the floor plan to meet the functional requirements of a children's science museum. This second phase remodel of the museum was completed in the year 2000.

Click here to see more of this project.

Wilbur Mansion Pergola
Far view of pergola and Wilbur Mansion Straigt-on view of pergola with red flowers

This pergola was built for an historic residence in Champaign, Illinois. The structure is based on of the original design found from photographs of 1935 and was well over one hundred feet in length. When New Prairie began the project, only the original limestone foundation remained at the site.

 

Click to see more pictures from this project.

McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation Doors
Wooden doors before remodeling Newly reconfigured and painted wooden doors

The old swing doors leading from the McKinley Foundation Great Hall to the new Presby Hall dormitory did not accommodate fire codes or ADA requirements.  The doors were undersized; at least one needed to be three feet wide.  Rather than replace  the beautiful historic doors, they were modified.

 

Click to see more pictures from this project.