Associate Professor Anne Sullivan has been keeping history alive in Chicagoland for more than 20 years. As the principal of Sullivan | Preservation, she has taken historical treasures of the region—including the Glessner House Museum in Chicago, the Martin Mitchell Mansion in Naperville, and the Edgewater Beach Apartments in Chicago—and them glisten once more for the American public.

The second recipient of the John H. Bryan Chair of the Master of Science degree program, Sullivan brings her material knowledge and expertise to the Department Historic Preservation, teaching courses in historic building materials, building pathology, and sustainable practices. More importantly, she collaborates with SAIC students and alumni on professional restoration projects, including the historic Chicago Bascule Bridges, the Roger Brown Study Collection, and Overlook, the historic home of the Charles Deere family in Moline, Illinois.

Named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in 2014, Sullivan sees the importance of her role as a both an artist and scientist at the School. “We are looking at the science behind why things are deteriorating and how to bring them back with chemical or natural means. There’s a synergy there between science and the arts,” she says. The truly interdisciplinary practice of preservationists like Sullivan ensure that we are able to keep enjoying the city’s Beautiful/Work.