Before We Begin the Tour

Make no little plans

- Daniel Burnham

form follows function. This is the law.

- Louis Sullivan

A Few Facts
After the Great Fire, Chicago building began to grow up and out from downtown Several factors facilitated the growth and development of Chicago:
Building materials such as iron and steel, masonry and glass became available and inexpensive European immigrants provided low cost labor Engineering and technology advances such as:
Elevators, pumps, electricity and shipping

Money was easy to borrow

Two Grand Plans from Burnham

- Worlds Columbian Exhibition

- The Chicago Plan

The Reliance Building

Reliance Building Facts

Location: 1 W. Washington Completion: 1890 and 1895 Architects: John Wellborn Root and Charles Atwood 15 Stories Notable Facts:
Early Chicago School structure
Skyscrapers External steel structure Boxlike design Glass exterior Elevator service Floating raft foundation

Today houses Burnham Hotel

The Rookery Building

The Rookery
Location: 229 S. LaSalle Completion: 1888 Architects: Burnham and Root 12 Stories Notable Facts:
Early Chicago School structure
Skyscrapers External steel structure Boxlike design Glass exterior Elevator service Floating raft foundation

Considered the oldest standing skyscraper, it originally housed the offices of Burnham and Root

The Monadnock Block

Monadnock Block
Location: 53 W. Jackson Completion: 1893 Architects: Begun by Burnham and Root; completed by Holabird and Roche 16 Stories Notable Facts:
Early Chicago School structure Was largest office building in the world, was criticized for its size and lacking in style Unique load-bearing exterior masonry and wind bracing system.

Merchandise Mart

The Merchandise Mart

Location: 222 Merchandise Plaza Completion: 1830 Architects: Graham, Anderson, Probst and White 25 Stories Style: Art Deco Notable Facts:
Designed as a city within a city all services Worlds largest building in area when opened, it now has its own zip code Designed as a combined skyscraper, warehouse and retail store:
recessed portals (door ways) 56 Indian chiefs engraved into the towers crown Symmetry includes 4 corners incorporating geometric designs Exterior cornices provide unique holiday and theme lighting

The Board of Trade

The Board of Trade

Location: 141 W. Jackson Completion: 1930 Architects: Holabird & Root 45 Stories Style: Art Deco Notable Facts:
Houses 50 different trading and financial markets Was Chicagos tallest building until 1965 Topped by 31 foot statue of Ceres, Roman goddess of grain

Willis Tower

Willis Tower
Location: 233 S. Wacker Drive Completion: 1973 Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 108 Stories Style: Super Structure Notable Facts:
Originally called the Sears Tower, it was the worlds largest building for 25 years One of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago, over 1 million people visit the observation deck each year. Asymmetrical exterior design was inspired by an ad for a pack of cigarettes

John Hancock Center

John Hancock Center

Location: 875 N. Michigan Avenue Completion: 1968 Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 100 Stories Style: Super Structure Notable Facts:
First super structure in Chicago, was the tallest building until Sears Tower opened 95th Floor restaurant and Observatory offers a 360 view of the city Building includes Chicagos only open-air SkyWalk for visitors Full size pool on the 44th floor is the highest swimming pool in America

Marina City

Marina City
Location: State Street and the River Completion: 1964 Architect: Bertrand Goldberg 65 Stories Style: Modern Skyscraper Notable Facts:
Complex includes two corn cob high rise building launched as the worlds tallest, residential housing Apartments which have almost no 90 walls are shaped as pie wedges. Built as a self-contained city, complex includes all services including theater, gym, skating rink, bowling alley, boat marina and several restaurants Lowest 19 floors are used as parking

The Robey House

The Robey House

Location: 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave. Completion: 1909 Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright 3 Style: Prairie Style Residential Notable Facts:
Prairie Style homes were designed to fit in the surrounding landscape Includes gently sloping roofs, flat, low proportions, extended eaves and sheltering overhangs, low terraces and long, narrow bands of windows Inside floor plan is built around a central fireplace and includes extensive open space, low ceilings, narrow hall ways and built in furnishings

Public Attractions