Hopes Windows was founded in 1912 in Jamestown, New York. By the 1920s, their “Standard” series hot-rolled steel windows became the go-to for architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. In Naperville, original steel windows are found on pre-WWII municipal buildings and several brick Tudor Revival homes in the .

As Naperville continues to balance growth with preservation, Hopes steel windows stand as the literal and metaphorical frame through which the city views its future: strong, elegant, and enduring.

For Naperville homes facing the DuPage River, the non-porous nature of baked-on enamel over steel prevents the water infiltration that plagues wood sashes. Furthermore, the narrow frames allow for larger triple-pane insulated glass units (IGUs), improving energy efficiency to meet Naperville’s strict 2018 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) amendments.

Naperville experiences a Dfa humid continental climate (hot, humid summers; cold, snowy winters). Steel presents challenges (thermal conductivity) and advantages (strength).

In Naperville, choosing Hopes steel windows is a deliberate act of architectural stewardship. For the historic homeowner on West Jefferson Avenue, it is a moral and legal necessity to preserve the city’s heritage. For the luxury builder on a 2-acre lot near Whalon Lake, it is a signal of uncompromising quality—a rejection of disposable building materials in favor of a product that will last 75+ years.

Case in Point: A 1928 Tudor at 507 N. Ellsworth St. originally featured Hopes’ “Cottage” series. By 2015, severely corroded, the homeowners faced pressure to replace with vinyl. Instead, a preservation consultant specified custom Hopes replacement casements. The result: the home retained its National Register eligibility.