Women’s Architectural League Foundation
Chicago’s Architectural Heritage… past, present and future
Pui Tak Center Tour
When: Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 AM
Where: 2216 S. Wentworth Ave.
Pui Tak Center is located in the former On Leong Merchants Association Building. This 36,000 square foot building is Chinatown’s only Chicago Landmark building. Constructed from 1926 to 1928, the building was originally built for the On Leong Merchants Association. The building was designed by two Norwegian American architects, Christian S. Michaelsen and Siguard A. Rognstad. When plans for the building were announced in the Chicago Tribune of July 4, 1926, it was called, “One of
the most expensive and elaborate buildings ever erected in America by the Chinese.”
Mission Statement
Our purposes are to promote awareness and appreciation of Chicago area architecture and to provide scholarships to architectural students of the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Universities of Illinois at Chicago and Champaign-Urbana.
In 1958, a group of women who were architects or were related to architects formed the Women’s Architectural League Foundation to promote awareness and appreciation of Chicago architecture. Over the years, membership has broadened and is open to all women and men interested in architecture.
WALF members organize tours designed to deepen appreciation for both historic and contemporary Chicago architecture. Tours frequently feature buildings under construction or recently completed, led by architects involved in the project.
Another interesting and informative site you may enjoy is the Women Who Built Illinois Database found at www.landmarks.org/womenwhobuiltillinois/
It includes information on over 100 female architects, engineers, developers, designers, builders, landscape architects, interior designers and clients and their projects between 1879 and 1979.
This site calls attention to the women who helped to create places that today are cherished by communities and property owners across Illinois.
This website is presented by Landmarks Illinois. WALF is grateful for this interesting presentation and all the effort that was put into the project.
Women's Architectural League Foundation 