Edition: Chicago Architecture 101
Aiming High: Chicago Architecture
Author: By Drew Van Lahr
The tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower, stands over the city skyline with its two white, modern-looking antennae, and scans the city like a great, square sentinel. The heights reached by this building were made possible thanks to decades of architectural evolution, which was, in turn, made possible by architects, engineers, and the workers who powered Chicago’s drive to reach the sky.
Monadnock
Before modern technology, architects were already trying to reach the sky, but the walls themselves had to bear the weight of the building. The walls of the northern half of the Monadnock are eight-feet thick on the first floor, and narrow to only 18 inches at the top. Thanks to the extreme weight inherent in this early design style, the building actually sank deep enough that 150 hydraulic jacks raised the building for subway construction, leaving it level at present. 53 W. Jackson Blvd..
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago didn’t always house a magnificent collection of Impressionist, Post- Impressionist, and American paintings. Originally constructed as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, museum curators waited until the fair’s end to claim the new spot. The lion statues at the entrance play an important place in Chicago sports lore, being clothed in celebratory team jerseys (and even specially-built team helmets) when Chicago sports teams make the post season. 111 S. Michigan Ave..
Chicago Water Tower
Strolling along Michigan Avenue, it’s obvious that the Chicago Water Tower stands out—a relic from the past. While a few other buildings survived the fire of 1871, only the historic Water Tower remains today. The tower no longer carries out its original function as a pressure equalizer for a nearby pumping station. Instead, a visitor information center showcases the background of one of the most recognizable spots in the city. 806 N. Michigan Ave..
Chicago Board of Trade Building
It wasn’t until 1930 that the Chicago Board of Trade inhabited the building that now holds the same name as its tenant, the Chicago Board of Trade Building. It was the first Chicago structure to clear 600 feet in height (though barely, at 605 feet), although at least one other LaSalle Street building carried more floors. The unique building represents the sleek modernism of the Art Deco style, popularized in the prohibition era and, more recently, in movies like Road to Perdition and The Untouchables. 141 W. Jackson Blvd..
Rookery Building
Home to some of the world’s all-time great architects, the Rookery Building earned the name before it was even built. Once the office of such famous architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel Burnham, and John Root, the space was also temporarily occupied by City Hall. Evicted from their regular spot by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, city officials turned to the building for a short time. Pigeons were so bad during their occupation that neighbors termed it “a rookery” (a name which could also slander shady politicians). 209 S. LaSalle St..
Wrigley Building
Built to house one of Chicago’s oldest and most successful companies, the Wrigley Building is a blend of architectural styles. The triangular shape pays homage to the Spanish Cathedral of Seville, which is decorated with an Americanized rendition of French Renaissance style. The gleaming exterior of white terra cotta requires significant upkeep, but rewards viewers with a shimmering effect when illuminated every night. 400 N. Michigan Ave..
LaSalle Bank Building
Formerly known as the Field Building, the Windy City went without any major construction from 1934 to 1955 because of hard times in the 1930s and ‘40s. The last skyscraper built before that period is now known as the LaSalle Bank Building. Marshall Field’s was the only company with the wherewithal to start building a 43-story skyscraper two years after “Black Tuesday”—taking a big chance that proved successful. 135 S. LaSalle St.
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603
Discover 5,000 years of artistic expression at one of the world's great art museums. Journey through Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas as you enjoy paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, textiles, and architectural works. Admission $7-$12.
Chicago Water Tower & Pumping Station
Chicago Ave. and Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
The historic landmark is the only public building that survived the Great Chicago Fire. Inside the Old Water Tower is the City Gallery, showing photography of historic Chicago. Free admission.
The Rookery
209 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60604
An icon of the "Chicago School" of architecture, this building was built in 1885-88, and its lobby was redesigned in 1907 by Frank Lloyd Wright - his downtown work.>
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Wrigley Building
400 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
The first large office building built north of the Chicago River, its always white façade was featured in the 1957 sci-fi film “Beginning of the End,” where it was attacked by giant grasshoppers.
John Hancock Center Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60661
See Chicago from the top of the Hancock Building in the heart of downtown. The John Hancock Center Observatory offers Chicago views at their finest.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60602
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) offers a 88 different tours in total. You can explore the city by bus, boat, bike on foot or even via a segway.
