Mayslake Peabody Estate Assessment and Master Plan

Oak Brook, IL

AltusWorks was engaged by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County to prepare a Facility Condition Assessment and Reuse Master Plan for the Mayslake Peabody Estate to guide fiscal planning and fundraising to improve public access to the historic resources on the estate. Comprised of the Mansion, Retreat Wing, Chapel, Entry Gate and Garage, the estate was purchased by the Forest Preserve District and concurrently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

AltusWorks first performed a detailed facility condition assessment of each of the structures including their building systems to identify their level of operation, active failure modes and missing systems required by code. From this understanding we prepared detailed scope recommendations for the restoration, repair, and/or replacement of various systems combined with analysis of the programmatic needs of the Forest Preserve District.

AltusWorks then facilitated a stakeholder engagement process, which included three stakeholder meetings, one public event, and an online survey to solicit ideas, concerns, and priorities. Through this community engagement process, various aspects of preservation, reuse, and integration were explored and stakeholder priorities identified.

The Master Plan, and final phase of the project, consolidated data from the assessment and engagement process and to develop reuse strategies to accommodate events and programs moving the estate into its next 100 years servicing DuPage County. In the spring of 2025, the Forest Preserve District board approved two phases of the Master Plan which initiated AltusWorks’ continued engagement as Architect of Record for the Improvement Plan of Mayslake Peabody Estate. Document development is currently underway.