Unity Temple Church
Frank Lloyd Wright church landmark in Oak Park
Frank Lloyd Wright's reinforced-concrete Unity Temple in Oak Park, built for a Unitarian congregation. Architecture students and design-minded visitors tour to study its pioneering modernist interior and structure.
Unity Temple at a Glance#
Address: 875 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301, United States
Website: https://www.unitytemple.org
Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Mondays (hours for services differ)
Admission: Adult $15, Students/Seniors $12, children under 6 free; worship services free (donations accepted)
About Unity Temple#
Unity Temple is a Unitarian Universalist church building in Oak Park, Illinois, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1908. It is widely cited for its early and influential use of reinforced concrete and modernist design principles.
Visitors come to study Wright’s interior planning, geometric ornament, and the temple’s compact auditorium and lobby arrangement. Guided tours and exhibitions explain the building’s design and preservation, and the structure remains in use for worship and community events.
Frank Lloyd Wright wrote and built the project in the first decade of the 20th century as an integrated civic and religious commission; its materials and planar forms marked a departure from traditional church architecture. The building has been the subject of conservation efforts to preserve its concrete fabric and original design features.
Located in the village of Oak Park immediately west of Chicago, the temple sits within a neighborhood known for multiple Wright houses and early-20th-century architecture.
- Architectural significance: Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and constructed in 1905-1908, notable for its pioneering use of reinforced concrete in a public building.
- Use and access: Continues to function as both an active Unitarian congregation and a site open for public tours and architectural visits.
How to Get to Unity Temple#
From downtown Chicago: take the CTA Green Line to the Harlem/Lake terminal and transfer to local buses or walk (about 20-30 minutes). There is street parking and limited nearby paid parking; public transit is recommended on busy days.
Tips for Visiting Unity Temple#
- Enter through the main Lake Street entrance; guided architecture tours start on the hour and are well worth the extra cost for the building's spatial effects.
- Arrive for a weekday morning tour to avoid weekend crowds and school groups.
- Sit with your back to the light in the sanctuary for the best appreciation of Wright's plaster and light composition.
Best Time to Visit Unity Temple#
Indoor attraction - schedule visits for weekday mornings when guided tours are less crowded and the light in the sanctuary is often at its best.
Weather & Climate near Unity Temple#
Unity Temple's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (937 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -9° - -1° | -11° | 45 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -7° - 2° | -8° | 40 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -1° - 8° | -1° | 66 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 4° - 15° | 7° | 95 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 92 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 15° - 27° | 21° | 100 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 18° - 29° | 24° | 94 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 17° - 28° | 23° | 104 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 13° - 24° | 19° | 89 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 18° | 12° | 69 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 0° - 9° | 1° | 79 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -6° - 2° | -7° | 64 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
