Advocacy, community, and documentation for mid-century modernism across Chicago's Southland
The MISSION of SoCoMCM is to bring awareness to the exemplary enclave of mid-century modern architecture in Chicago's Southland while also providing a forum (collective) for modernist enthusiasts and homeowners to gather, collaborate, and work towards preservation.
SoCoMCM advocates for safeguarding mid-century modern structures, artwork, objects, and the modernist ethos. Programming encompasses architectural tours, educational lectures, workshops addressing renovation tactics, design history, landscape planning, and landmark designation processes.
Develops opportunities for social engagement from architectural tours and social gatherings to book signings and seminars.
Maintains a database of over 140 historically significant structures and conducts video interviews for an upcoming documentary about Southland modernist architecture.
Provides a collective for like-minded individuals on similar journeys of restoration, maintenance, and preservation of MCM properties.
Develops visual content, graphic design, and messaging for internal and external platforms including social media.
Handles financial management and organizational structure.
Mid-Century Modern architecture (roughly 1945–1975) emerged as a distinctive American response to postwar optimism and new manufacturing possibilities. Its defining characteristics include:
In the Chicago south suburbs, this movement produced hundreds of residences and institutions by nationally recognized architects — many now underdocumented and at risk.
Our database currently documents over 140 historically significant properties across 20 communities in the Chicago south metro area — including Blue Island, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Homewood, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, and more.
Each property record tracks: address, architect, year built, building type, current ownership, research documentation status (photos, plans, permits, historic registration), and research notes. Our Research & Documentation committee is also producing video interviews for an upcoming documentary on Southland modernist architecture.
Thirty-plus architects are documented in our survey, ranging from nationally known figures to prolific regional practitioners who shaped entire neighborhoods.