Prairie-Architects

Frank Lloyd Wright's First Unitarian Meeting House has become one of the twentieth century America's most
influential churches. Prairie Architects, as consultants to Flad & Associates Structural Engineers of Madison,
Wisconsin, was the preservation consultant for the 1994 roof restoration as well as a study of ways to retrofit
a historically appropriate air conditioning system into the sanctuary.

As a result of Prairie Architects' roofing recommendations, the client was able to retain half of a roof that
had been slated previously for replacement, with a substantial savings in historic fabric and cost. Prairie
Architects' HVAC recommendations (with Affiliated Engineers, Inc.) outlined a way to install an air
conditioning system that would be literally invisible.

The firm also investigated and documented the history and existing conditions of the roof, insulation, and
ventilation conditions (1993) and made recommendations for restoration and conservation. Prairie
Architects was responsible for organizing the report to permit it to become the first element of an
impending Historic Structures Report. Prairie Architects was responsible for collection, review and analysis
of historical materials and making architectural restoration recommendations.