American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced October 11 the results of the Partners in Preservation popular vote winner, On Leong Merchants Association Building (Pui Tak Center). Through a dedicated Web site, American Express encouraged the community to take part in the Partners in Preservation initiative by voting online daily for five weeks for their favorite historic place from a slate of 25 sites across five Chicagoland counties.
As the Popular Vote winner, the On Leong Merchants Association Building (Pui Tak Center) in Chicago's Chinatown will receive a grant of $100,000 to help restore terra cotta masonry and clay roof tiles to prevent further deterioration. The building, which is recognized for its colorful and exquisite terra cotta detailing and pagoda-style roof.
Launched in September by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Partners in Preservation program is a community-based historic preservation initiative. American Express has committed $1 million in preservation grants to Chicagoland and encouraged members of the community to participate in the initiative by voting online daily for their favorite historic site.
American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a special Advisory Committee comprised of local Chicago dignitaries next will review the public's votes, the role the site plays in the community, along with each site's monetary needs to determine how the remainder of the $1 million in preservation grants will be awarded.
On Leong Merchants Association Building (Pui Tak Center), designed in 1928 by local architects Michaelsen and Rognstad, this visually striking building originally served as the headquarters of the On Leong Merchant Association. The building was designated a local landmark in 1993 and is considered to be Chicago's most significant symbol of the cultural heritage of the Chinese.
American Express Company is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. (Source: CNNMoney.com, Oct 11, 2007).