Our sales team spends hundreds of hours each year working on public school masonry projects. Whether they’re suburban districts or Chicago Public Schools, additions or repairs, one thing’s for sure: there’s probably going to be some brick matching involved!
In the latter half of the 19th century, Chicago’s population swelled by a factor of six, and new laws were passed requiring school attendance for children under 14. That translated to an explosion of school construction: between 1893 and 1910, the city added roughly 10 schools per year… and nearly all were built with brick. That trend continued right up until the 1940s, encompassing the construction of William C. Goudy Elementary School in 1937 (pictured here).
Goudy School received a large, much-needed addition to the south in 2003, but fourteen years later, harsh Midwestern winters had taken their toll. As part of a repair effort encompassing routine tuck pointing and parapet work, we were tasked to match & supply bricks that would seamlessly blend in with both eras of the building. If you look really, really closely, you might be able to spot where the new material was filled in … but this custom, four-color Interstate Brick blend of “Desert Sand,” “Golden Buff,” “Ochre Buff,” and “Copperstone” is pretty tricky to spot (that means a job well done)!
The students at Goudy today speak over 40 different languages, making it one of the most diverse schools in the city. We’re honored to have this feather in our cap — and can’t wait to show you the next few school projects we’re working on!
LOCATION: 5120 N Winthrop Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
ARCHITECT: Urban Works
GC: All-Bry Construction
PRODUCTS SUPPLIED: Interstate Brick
