Shoreland Building

Shoreland Building

Project History

In 1926, owner Harry Fawcett constructed Chicago’s most fashionable residential hotel, “the Shoreland”, which featured ornate stonework and a terracotta exterior. In 2004, the Shoreland’s massive rehabilitation into luxury condominiums welcomed yet another life for this prominent building. Water penetration through cracks and harsh freeze-thaw cycles caused deterioration of the terracotta. Matrix, a repair mortar for terracotta, was selected for its on-site color matching to rebuild the ornate terracotta elements. M3P (mineral silicate paint) and Terracotta Matte (clear finish) were selected to match the glaze finish. Cracks were filled with epoxy and Matrix was used in full-depth repairs. The original terracotta pattern looked like a mud wasp nest and proved difficult to replicate. An artist/sculptor from the Local 52 Union faithfully recreated the characteristics with Matrix. Ornate terracotta medallions at the top of the building featured five colors and were redone with M3P. Terracotta Matte was applied wherever only a finish coat was required.