Barrington's White House Cultural and Community Center Adaptive Reuse
Adaptive Reuse transformed a Historic Mansion into a Community Gathering and Event Space.
JLK worked closely with the Village of Barrington to rehabilitate the historic White House built in 1898. Today, the former private residence is transformed into a cultural asset where community events take place.
JLK provided pre-design services and full historic preservation architectural design services for this adaptive reuse project. Prior to design, JLK worked with the Village to complete programming and use studies to understand how the White House could be adaptively reused to meet the needs of the Village. The project ultimately balanced preserving the historic character of the house with meeting the needs of the Village and modernizing the building to serve as an events venue.
JLK was the lead historic preservation architect guiding the project from schematic design through construction administration. JLK also worked closely with other disciplines to complete LEED Gold design, documentation, and certification. Exterior restoration included repairs to and/or replication of windows, doors, wood siding, and cornice. Extensive upgrades to the interior structural system enabled the creation of a functional ballroom space within the attic of the house. JLK also provided interior design services for all finishes, furnishings, and lighting to ensure that modern needs were met in a historically appropriate manner.
Throughout the entire project, qualified preservation architects and historians at JLK coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that all work adhered to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. After the successful completion of the project, the White House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Barrington’s White House was constructed in 1898 by builder Fred Lines for the Robertson’s family— John, a financier and Julia, his wife. Located in the center of Barrington, the Classical Revival-style American Foursquare home reflects the Robertson’s prominent status within the community. Active in the civil and social life of Barrington, the couple was known to host elegant gatherings at the house.
The Robertson’s lived in the house until 1918 when it was occupied by extended family members. Throughout the twentieth century the house underwent several changes in ownership and use including as a make-shift hospital and nursing home.
In 2010, the Village of Barrington acquired the White House with the intent of restoring it. Following this major restoration and adaptive reuse project, the house reopened in 2014 as Barrington’s White House Cultural and Community Center.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places after the rehabilitation project was completed in 2014.
2015
Donald P. Klein Award
Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG)
LEED Gold Certification
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
2016
Historic Preservation Award
American Public Works Association (APWA) Lake Branch and Chicago Metro Chapter
Merit Award for Renovation
Association of Licensed Architects
JLK worked closely with the Village of Barrington to rehabilitate the historic White House built in 1898. Today, the former private residence is transformed into a cultural asset where community events take place.
JLK provided pre-design services and full historic preservation architectural design services for this adaptive reuse project. Prior to design, JLK worked with the Village to complete programming and use studies to understand how the White House could be adaptively reused to meet the needs of the Village. The project ultimately balanced preserving the historic character of the house with meeting the needs of the Village and modernizing the building to serve as an events venue.
JLK was the lead historic preservation architect guiding the project from schematic design through construction administration. JLK also worked closely with other disciplines to complete LEED Gold design, documentation, and certification. Exterior restoration included repairs to and/or replication of windows, doors, wood siding, and cornice. Extensive upgrades to the interior structural system enabled the creation of a functional ballroom space within the attic of the house. JLK also provided interior design services for all finishes, furnishings, and lighting to ensure that modern needs were met in a historically appropriate manner.
Throughout the entire project, qualified preservation architects and historians at JLK coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that all work adhered to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. After the successful completion of the project, the White House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Barrington’s White House was constructed in 1898 by builder Fred Lines for the Robertson’s family— John, a financier and Julia, his wife. Located in the center of Barrington, the Classical Revival-style American Foursquare home reflects the Robertson’s prominent status within the community. Active in the civil and social life of Barrington, the couple was known to host elegant gatherings at the house.
The Robertson’s lived in the house until 1918 when it was occupied by extended family members. Throughout the twentieth century the house underwent several changes in ownership and use including as a make-shift hospital and nursing home.
In 2010, the Village of Barrington acquired the White House with the intent of restoring it. Following this major restoration and adaptive reuse project, the house reopened in 2014 as Barrington’s White House Cultural and Community Center.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places after the rehabilitation project was completed in 2014.
2015
Donald P. Klein Award
Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG)
LEED Gold Certification
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
2016
Historic Preservation Award
American Public Works Association (APWA) Lake Branch and Chicago Metro Chapter
Merit Award for Renovation
Association of Licensed Architects
