Laura Stoller, Architectural Masters Candidate, to meet with Three Arts Club Friends

The Friends of the Three Arts Club recently received an email from Laura Stoller, a student pursuing a Masters in Architecture. A group of us plans to meet with her near the end of February, 2010. We are very excited to hear about her studies and her ideas for this magnificent place. If you would like to join us at our meeting with Ms. Stoller, please email here.

This is what Laura said:

My name is Laura Stoller and I am a Master of Architecture student at
the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I happened to walk by
the Three Arts Club last summer and fell in love with it. My
concentration is in Preservation which includes everything from
building rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects to recording and
documenting historic buildings. I will graduate in May with my
Masters and plan on becoming a licensed architect, focusing on
Preservation in Chicago.

The reason I am emailing is because my one-year thesis project is on
the Three Arts Club. I started the project in August and I will
present my thesis at the end of April. I spent last semester
researching everything I could about the building and digging up old
articles, images, etc. I was able to contact the developer and he
gave me a tour of the building, as well as the original set of
architectural drawings. I have reproduced the drawings electronically
using AutoCAD and now I am working on my proposed design for the
building.

I have a number of ideas for the new use of the building, including a
modern interpretation of the original Three Arts Club. I would love
to discuss my thesis with you and if you are interested, get your
imput. My goal is that my thesis project could help create a future
for this amazing building.

Margaret Squires, former Three Arts resident, speaks out

I recently visited Chicago and brought my 15 year old daughter to see my old stomping ground. I lived at the three arts club in the early 80's while attending The School of the Art Institute. I was shocked and saddened to see the vibrant place I remember now vacant. This is so wrong.

I had the most wonderful experience with my fellow women at this very unusual place. I feel blessed for my experiences in Chicago, due in great part to the three arts.

I went on on to live in Los Angeles and recieved my MFA in painting from UCLA. Now I'm a high school art teacher and parent of three children. Our young women need places like the three arts. We were all so inspired by each other. If I had money to add to the cause I certainly would. Good luck in obtaining an endowment. I would be happy to write another letter if needed.