Commissioned by philanthropist Judge Lambert Tree, the Tree Studios were designed as an artists’ residence by the Parfitt Brothers architectural firm. Located in Chicago’s fashionable north side, the Tree Studios are credited with being the oldest artist residence in the United States—the first part was built in 1894—and have been home to over 500 artists.
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Commissioned by philanthropist Judge Lambert Tree, the Tree Studios were designed as an artists’ residence by the Parfitt Brothers architectural firm. Located in Chicago’s fashionable north side, the Tree Studios are credited with being the oldest artist residence in the United States—the first part was built in 1894—and have been home to over 500 artists.
Sharing a square block with the studios was the Medinah Temple, built in 1912 as headquarters for the Chicago chapter of the Shriners. It was meant to be larger and more beautiful than any other Shrine in the United States. The Islamic-influenced design featured interior and exterior ornamentation derived from patterns found in the Ottoman Empire. The building’s most distinguished element was its 4,200-seat auditorium, whose excellent acoustics made it a popular performance space.
The Medinah Temple Association purchased the Tree Studios property in 1956, jeopardizing the artists’ community by opening up studio rentals to non-artists. The new community’s higher rents began forcing the artists out and paved the way for future development pressures. In 1999, the Shriners were offered $21 million for Medinah Temple and Tree Studios from a realty corporation who planned to raze both sites to create condominiums and parking spaces.
