historic renovations

The Champaign-Urbana area has many historically important residential and commercial structures. 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. Effective work in older buildings requires respecting and understanding historic architectural styles, materials, and construction techniques.

New Prairie’s historic renovation portfolio includes restoring and rebuilding corbels on an 1874 Victorian Italianate homestead, recasting curved plaster moldings on the Orpheum Theatre ceiling, repointing a solid masonry 19th-century home with historic lime mortar, and working from old photographs to recreate architectural features, including cupolas and pergolas.

Our staff seek continual education on historic techniques and the importance of historically sensitive renovation and repair. New Prairie is a frequent donator to and consumer of salvaged materials from our local Preservation and Conservation Association, and we have received numerous awards from PACA for our work.