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Landmarks Group To Present Annual Awards For Historic Preservation

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The iconic Wrigley Building, the Indian Boundary Field House in Rogers Park, and the Fortnightly Club of Chicago will be honored for their architectural significance to the city this weekend.

The 21st Annual Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards will recognize nine projects statewide this year.

Bonnie McDonald, President of Landmarks Illinois, said the awards honor individuals, organizations, projects and programs whose work demonstrates a commitment to excellence in historic preservation.

"In doing so, we hope to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect and promote historic resources," she said.

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McDonald said the new owners of the Wrigley Building made a commitment to restoring one of Chicago's most treasured buildings.

"They restored the entire facade, all of the terracotta; they put new windows into the building, and then they opened that wonderful plaza so you have this visible connection between the Tribune Tower to the Trump Tower," she said.

The Indian Boundary Field House was restored after a fire in 2012.

"This was significant. The Park District was faced with a building that had burned and 40 percent of it was gone. The community rose up to encourage the Park District to preserve the building, because it was well-loved and it was well-used," McDonald said. "They actually hired a conservator to go through the burned building, and to pick out elements of the Native American motif. They restored the building, and then reinstalled those motifs back into the building."

The Fortnightly Women's Club in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood started in 1873 and is the city's oldest women's organization. The group is receiving the Stewardship Award.

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