Nate Lielasus | Award for Stewardship

An Interview with Northworks Principle Architect Nate Lielasus

At Northworks, stewardship is woven into every project — an ethos that honors history while shaping spaces for future generations. For architect Nate Lielasus this principle is both professional and personal. His work with Friends of Historic Second Church (FOHSC), recipients of a 2025 Landmarks Illinois Dreihaus Foundation Preservation Award for Stewardship, exemplifies how thoughtful collaboration can sustain our shared cultural heritage. Nate serves as Vice President for Friends of Historic Second Church, embodying leadership and transferring sustainable practices from his philanthropic work into the Northworks studio.

“Stewardship means protecting our cultural heritage and sharing it with others,” Nate says. “That act of sharing deepens our appreciation and understanding of the built environment.”

Nate’s connection to Friends began the same month he joined Northworks in July 2011, when he volunteered as a docent, giving tours and sharing the church’s architectural history. “A few years later, I joined the board,” he recalls. “It is a small, hands-on organization, and being part of it has been inspiring. The board members are incredibly smart and dedicated. Each member reminds me that stewardship often requires tough decisions and the courage to do what is best for the community.”

That mindset mirrors the collaborative culture at Northworks. “It’s about speaking your mind, listening to others, and not being afraid to share ideas,” he says. “Confidence comes from both dialogue and trust.”

Much like Northworks, Friends is deliberate about cultivating their reputation and partnerships. “We work with wonderful conservators and craftspeople,” Nate explains. “For example, Parma Conservation led the mural restoration, and we made sure every person involved. From the muralist restoration team to the scaffolding team, every party was acknowledged. There is a shared respect for the craft and those who practice it.”

Preservation often requires balance and creative problem-solving. “There are always compromises,” Nate notes. “Compromises are not inherently negative; they are about finding harmony between authenticity and practicality.” When the team replaced an outdated electrical panel behind a wood pane in the sanctuary, they worked with Exclusive Millwork to build a replica panel that maintained the original character. “Most people don’t even notice the change,” he says. “We could not reuse the original wood… it was too dry, fragile, and the original opening was too small. The new work preserves the safety, integrity, and beauty of the building.”

Other interventions required a similar sensitivity. “Tiffany stained-glass windows came from another church and were resized in 1927 with added borders,” he explains. “During the restoration of the St Paul window. we backplated the later boarder with gray glass to tone it down and allow the Tiffany window to shine. The backplating is reversible and does not damage the window. Preservation is about respecting both the history and future life of the building.”

For Nate, stewardship and sustainability are inseparable. “As we all look toward a greener future, the greenest building is the one that already exists,” he says. “Preservation, renovation, and adaptive reuse are essential tools in combating climate change. By continuing to engage with our built heritage, we ensure that history, craft, and community remain at the heart of architecture’s future.”

Through his leadership as Principle at Northworks and his commitment to organizations like the Friends of Historic Second Church, Nate embodies the true meaning of stewardship — honoring the past through care, collaboration, and a lasting sense of responsibility to place.

ARTICLES AND PRESS ABOUT THE AWARD:

Landmark LinkedIn Announcement

Landmarks Preservation Programs

Landmarks Preservation Awards

Friends of the Historic Second Church

Other Projects