Time is in the Chicago Park District, in the Washington Park community area on Chicago's South Side, near the Midway Plaisance.
The Chicago Park District, University of Chicago, and Art Institute of Chicago conservators all sponsored restoration work, including drying out the cavity of the hollow sculpture, removal of the deteriorated substructure, a newly designed ventilation system within the piece, a protective exterior coating, and repairs to the reflecting pool.
In 2004, the University of Chicago contributed $100,000 and the Park District Board $845,000 to repair the pool and its water circulation system.
Make big plans: aim high in hope and work ..." In 1907, Taft had won the first commission from the Ferguson Fund to create the Fountain of the Great Lakes at the Art Institute of Chicago.
In 1936, Time's weather-related cracks were repaired; further work occurred in 1955.
The Beaux Arts style had become dated; instead of funding Taft's large-scale Midway Plaisance beautification plan, and providing the originally planned granite, bronze or Georgia marble materials, the trust only allocated sufficient funds and support for a concrete sculpture.
Time is considered to be the most important piece of monumental art in the Park District, which hosts over 100 art works.
By the end of 1991, the Park District had collected $320,000 of the $520,000 estimated repair costs from public and private funds, although in 1994 the sculpture still awaited repair.
The temporary building was budgeted at $270,000; the city spent a total of $450,000 on repairs approved by the Park District that year.
The sculpture is located a few blocks from Taft's studio, the Lorado Taft Midway Studios, now a Chicago Landmark and National Historic Landmark, located at 60th Street and Ingleside Avenue.
Taft resided in Illinois for most of his life and worked in the Midway Studios starting in 1906.
