| Address | 301 N. Central, Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Built | 1926 (Basement); 1932 (Exterior and First Floor Lobby); 1934-1943 (Interiors) |
| Architect | Nelson Max Dunning |
| Status | Designated Chicago Landmark |
| Designation Date | February 19, 2025 (Final)City Council Journal of the Proceedings, p. 24921 |
| Neighborhood | Austin |
| Type | Place of worship |
| Landmark ID | L-401 |
Direct quotes from the Chicago Landmark Designation Report
“Renowned local architect Nelson Max Dunning (1873-1945) designed the house of worship to reflect the building and religious traditions of the congregation. Dunning's design emphasizes the evolving philosophy of architecture in The Church of Christ, Scientist.”
“Approximately sixty members left Greater Union Baptist Church in 1972 to eventually organize Kingdom Baptist Church. For the first year, the fledging congregation utilized Reverend and Mrs. Horton's home on Pine Street, near Washington Boulevard, as their house of worship.”
“His work contributed to the movement's rise as one of the most influential forces in the field of architecture at the beginning of the twentieth century. Outside of his private architectural practice, Dunning contributed to the national built landscape under President Franklin Roosevelt as an expert in public housing and supervisor of the design and construction of public buildings for the New Deal-era Public Works Administration.”
“Dunning is recognized as a founder of the Architectural League of America in 1899 and served as its first president. He disseminated progressive and modern designs throughout the country as part of the ALA.”
“It is an architecturally significant and unique example of the hybrid use of two distinct and divergent styles: Neoclassical and Art Deco. At the exterior, Dunning united the two styles through Neoclassical detailing, which was stylized and applied to the forms of the modern Art Deco style.”
“When Kingdom Baptist Church relocated to the building, they opened it to greater Austin as a center of community, education, and culture by establishing several key programs. Here, the congregation's mission, teaching, and youth departments organized the Kingdom Day Care Center, Kingdom Chase House Day Care Center, Afterschool Program, Substance Abuse Ministry and hosted fashion shows, exercise classes, skating parties, and youth parties.”
“The Fifteenth Church of Christ, Scientist was the primary occupant until approximately 1972, when the congregation chose to vacate the building. Following the original congregation's departure, the newly chartered Kingdom Baptist Church began acquiring the building in the summer of 1972.”
“He remained employed with the federal government until his death in April 1945. Outside of his architectural practice, Dunning was a founder of the Architectural League of America (ALA) in 1899 and served as its first president.”
“The congregation was affiliated with The Church of Christ, Scientist, a denomination founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy. When The Fifteenth Church of Christ, Scientist was founded, it consisted of approximately 500 members.”
“Very little is known about the congregational history of The Fifteenth Church of Christ, Scientist. There are no written publications, and the congregation is infrequently mentioned in newspaper articles after December 1971.”
What other designation reports say about this building
“Dunning's other commissions in Chicago reflect a range of building types and architectural styles. Two churches, both from 1917, at 301 North Central Avenue and the Fourteenth Church of Christ, Scientist at 4444 North Paulina Street, are classical in design.”