After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Chicago’s architecture, culture, and design underwent a significant shift. Local politician Issac N. Arnold sought to reimagine the city in the style of cultural hubs such as Athens, Florence, and Alexandria. 

“It is time for a new advance,” he said. “We have boasted long enough of our grain elevators, our railroads, our trade in wheat and lumber, our business palaces; let us now have libraries, galleries of art, scientific museums, noble architecture and public parks…and a local literature; otherwise, Chicago will become merely a place where ambitious young men will come to make money and achieve fortune, then go elsewhere to enjoy it.” (1)

The call to action to balance cultural and commercial spaces influenced the trajectory of Chicago’s urban landscape, spanning over a century. 

Image Credit: The Booth Experience

Since the late 1800s, Chicago has undergone transformation after transformation, with each chapter redefining the “City in a Garden”. (2) Rooted in the “new American architecture” brought forth by the architect Louis Sullivan, modern-day Chicago draws from the same desire for a “fresh aesthetic to accompany the revolutionary structural systems” of the city. (3) 

As such, Chicago has become a leader in adaptive reuse and historic preservation, reimagining buildings and architecture, including The Old Post Office, the Fulton Market District, and The Ramova Theatre (Bridgeport). Since 1950, Chicago has made history by repurposing over 2,000 buildings into budget-friendly apartments. (4) With a focus on sustainable design, Chicago has developed a reputation for innovative design with one foot in the future and the other in the past. 

Image Credit: Built FNF

The Elston Avenue complex, as well as the historic Morton Salt Building, is a prime example of adaptive reuse. Aligned with contemporary design principles, the former salt packaging and distribution center has evolved into a live music venue, without losing the charm or the iconic Morton Salt Girl painted on the roof. (5) The changes to the West Town neighborhood, known for its proximity to the Salt District, provided an opportunity for the Chicago-based beer company Goose Island. 

Image Credit: Preservation Chicago

In 2024, the company opened the nearby “Goose Island Salt Shed Pub”. With The Salt Shed Pub replacing the original Clybourn location, Goose Island strives to strengthen the brand’s relationship with the local music scene. (6) Described as a “riverfront taproom,” the pub features a rotating selection of Goose Island brews, such as the Bourbon Country Brand Stout, the Goose IPA, and the 312 Urban Wheat Ale. (7)  

The Salt Shed Pub was a part of the adaptive reuse project of the Morton Salt building. Once a maintenance garage, the space was reconstructed to “add to the venue’s plentiful entertainment offerings,” further shifting the concert hall into a community hub. (8) Drawing from a rich material palette of brick, wood, steel, and aluminum, the pub features high ceilings, expansive skylights, and a custom Oat Foundry Split Flap. 

Image Credit: Block Club Chicago

Split Flaps are as historic as the Morton Salt Company, which opened in 1929 and operated until 2015. In classic train halls and airports, Split Flaps (Solari boards) were used to rotate through departures and arrivals. Introduced in the mid-1950s, Split Flaps quickly became the preferred information board, an integral part of the travel experience. By the late 2010s, most Split Flaps had been replaced by digital alternatives, shuttering around the same time as Morton Salt Company. (9)

The choice of a custom 6 Row x 32 Column Split Flap was strategic, aligning with the city’s sustainability goals. Aesthetically, the large-scale mechanical display contributes to the space’s industrial style, rather than a hot screen or video wall. Oat Foundry, as the only US-based manufacturer of custom Split Flaps, is the closest on the market in terms of the size, scale, and legibility of Solari boards, and can be easily read from a distance.

When it comes to bar signage, despite ditching a digital alternative, The Salt Shed Pub needed to rotate through up-to-date content, promote brews, share upcoming events, and more. With an Oat Foundry Split Flap, the pub can rotate through all of its brand messaging, using mechanical motion and kinetic energy to introduce movement and energy into otherwise static spaces. 

In addition to providing food and beverages for the Salt Shed venue, the pub hosts merch pop-ups for bands and after-concert food specials, all of which can be updated on the board in real time or scheduled to appear at a specific time. With the ability to set the pace of transitions, an Oat Foundry Split Flap can run faster or slower, accentuating or softening its signature sound. 

Similar to a Solari board, an Oat Foundry Split Flap also has long-term visibility, legible from up to 100 ft away. Ideal for the pub’s expansive taproom, these custom Split Flaps include 6-inch modules and 2.5” text, making it possible to read from the entrance, bar, and other key vantage points. With 100+ size configurations, bars, pubs, and restaurants, such as Goose Island’s Salt Shed Pub, scaled their Split Flap to fit the space perfectly.

Goose Island’s Salt Shed Pub has made headlines for its adaptive reuse of a historic facility (8), contributions to the community, and classic menu inspired by the brand’s original Chicago location. (6) Promoted by Secret Chicago, Preservation Chicago, and Eater, the pub continues to pop up in articles about city hotspots, local events, preservation projects, and more.

Mechanical Split Flaps from Oat Foundry provide a much-needed respite from monitor menus and hot screens. From long-range visibility to a modern, sleek design, we take pride in customizing and sizing our Split Flaps to unique food and beverage spaces. The perfect balance of form and function, our large-scale Split Flaps last for decades, providing a signature, long-lasting staple to any brewpub.  

Resources

1. Chicago Historical Society, November 19, 1868
2. Chicago Facts, ChooseChicago.com
3. Chicago as an Art Nouveau City, International Congress
4. 90 Converted Apartment Buildings in 7 Decades, Preservation Chicago
5. WGN: One Year Ago: The Salt Shed opened its doors after renovating factory into concert venue, Preservation Chicago
6. Goose Island Beer to Open Salt Shed Pub in May, Chicago Eater
7. Goose Island
8. Saving The Salt Shed: An Adaptive Reuse Success Story, GBD Magazine
9. Clack-clack-clack: how the Solari board became a travel icon, Executive Travel
10. This Free Chicago Event Series Serves Goose Island Beer and Iconic Local Eats on the River, Secret Chicago
11. Discover the Vibrant and Diverse Neighborhoods of Chicago
12. Exterior Work Progresses for Morton Salt Adaptive Reuse in West Town
13. The Salt Shed, Built Podcast