Lake View resident John Vinci knew nothing about architecture growing up, even though his father was a successful builder. What he did know however, is that he liked to draw and play with tools.

As the youngest of seven children, “I never thought I’d go to college,” said Vinci. Yet he ended up at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and it was there he learned about the great architectural masters, Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. It was also while there that Vinci and his classmates started salvaging treasures from historic buildings.

Vinci eventually became an architect and a pioneer of — and champion at — restoring those historic properties. His work more than four decades ago saving the Louis Sullivan-designed trading room and arch from the old Chicago Stock Exchange and reconstructing it for the Art Institute, “put me on the map for restoration,” said Vinci.

For his decades-long contribution to preservation and restoration, Vinci will be honored Thursday at the Ritz Carlton Hotel as a “Legendary Landmark” by Landmarks Illinois. He is the first architect to receive the honor.

“I’m somewhat embarrassed,” said Vinci, co-author of the recently-released book, “The Complete Architecture of Adler & Sullivan.” “It’s a real tribute.”

Besides Vinci, this year’s Legendary Landmarks also include Gold Coasters Virginia and Norman Bobins, and Winnetka residents Alexandra and John Nichols.

I wish I had the space to marvel at the impressive accomplishments of all these legends. They are “among the great civic leaders of our city,” said Jim Peters, president of Landmarks Illinois.

“They always need to be people who’ve contributed a lot to the community, and all these people have been great contributors to things,” said Peters.

The Legendary Landmarks celebration also commemorates the 40th Anniversary of Landmarks Illinois. It was that long ago that a group of 21 people met on the 19th floor of the Continental Bank building to form a coalition to save the former stock exchange, the very one whose trading floor Vinci restored.

Landmarks Illinois was created out of the movement to save that building, Peters said. The organization’s logo is still that famous arch, which nowadays proudly sits on Columbus Drive at Monroe Street.

In June, Landmarks will celebrate the anniversary at its annual meeting at Glessner House, the home of its first office. There, Peters will announce the top 40 preservation successes of the last 40 years, statewide. Also planned are tours with the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Peters said one of the most important lessons he has learned is that standing out in front of a building with signs might be effective for capturing public attention, “but you have to find ways to save buildings.”

Turf wars … Last week’s artificial turf safety panel held at the Nature Museum by the Francis Parker School was described by one attendee as, “a fantastic meeting with great people-watching too,” Local politicos were out in full force, as well as former Chicago Bear Gary Fencik — a Parker parent — and actress Jennifer Beals.

Experts gave objective presentations describing artificial turf dangers and the pluses of natural grass. However, one expert did mention the need to combat juvenile obesity with available athletic facilities and the quick drying advantage of artificial turf after rains.

The entire program was like “déjà vu” for Herb Caplan, president of Protect Our Parks.

“All the evidence and arguments were the same that my Protect Our Parks group has previously advanced now were affirmed by this panel in spades, and the audience of parents with young children seemed unanimous in opposing turf and favoring grass for all the many, many, reasons,” said Caplan.

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By Attitlyenetty
Posted: 04/01/2011 11:59 AM

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