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From Daniel Burnham (who designed the “White City” of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition) to Frank Lloyd Wright to Mies van der Rohe’s famous steel and glass skyscrapers, Chicago’s landmark buildings are unforgettable. The Great Fire of 1871 played a pivotal part in the architecture of the city. No one knows for certain how it started, although folklore seems to point to a barn on the city’s west side. The blaze began early on a Sunday morning on October 8, 1871. By early Monday morning it had jumped the river and reached the business district. The fire burned until late Monday when rain helped douse the flames. By then it had destroyed 17,000 buildings and caused $200 million in damage. After the fire, Chicago was a blank slate and the city reinvented itself as the great modern metropolis it is today. Architects and landscape designers flocked here from around the country and the Chicago School of Architecture was born. Sears Tower - Constructed in 1974 by the Chicago firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Sears Tower is a triumph of ingenuity and innovation. The structure consists of nine framed skyscrapers incorporated into one massive building. Standing at 412 meters and 110 stories high, it is the tallest in North America. John Hancock Center - This 100-story structure was built in 1969, also by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The huge X-braces are not only visually arresting, they defend Chicago’s 3rd tallest structure against strong winds blowing in from Lake Michigan. Aon Center - The city’s 2nd tallest building,located at 200 East Randolph, rises 82 floors and 346 meters. Interestingly, the structure was first clad entirely in marble, but the slabs turned out to be too thin. They were later replaced with thicker slabs of speckled white granite. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - This revolutionary architect of Germany’s Bauhaus school left an indelible imprint on both Chicago and the face of urban architecture around the world. His twin apartment towers at 860-880 Lake Shore Drive are featured in most every book on modern architecture. He also designed many buildings at the Illinois Institute of Technology, including Crown Hall—a stunning marriage of steel and glass. Frank Lloyd Wright - The Prarie Style of architecture emerged in Chicago during the late 19th and early 20th century. It recalled the vast American landscape by focusing on horizontal expanses and by blurring the lines between exterior and interior spaces. Wright constructed more than 100 buildings throughout Chicago and nearby Oak Park, including the landmark Robie House. Daniel Burnham - In 1909, the renowned city planner and designer created the City of Chicago master plan that became a blueprint for other American cities. He also designed many groundbreaking buildings throughout the city, including the Rookery Building (with an atrium lobby by Frank Lloyd Wright) and the Reliance Building, recently re-opened as the Hotel Burnham in his honour. Louis Sullivan - A master and contemporary of Burnham, Sullivan’s distinct ornamental style influenced such giants as Frank Lloyd Wright, who briefly worked for him. Sullivan’s work can be seen at the Jewelers’ Building, the Auditorium Building and the Carson Pirie Scott Building. Helmut Jahn - This Chicago resident is known for his daring and controversial designs, including the James R. Thompson Center, the United Airlines Terminal at O’Hare International Airport and the innovative State Street Village at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Frank Gehry - The beginning of the new millennium has brought noteworthy architecture by Frank Gehry to Chicago, including the centerpiece of Millennium Park, the steel Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the BP Bridge. Rem Koolhaas - Following in the steps of architectural ingenuity first laid by Mies van der Rohe, the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology has been enhanced by the groundbreaking new McCormick Tribune Campus Center. Chicago Architecture Foundation/ArchiCenter - The CAF is the foremost expert on Chicago architecture, offering more than 70 different tours—on foot, by bus, or on a boat cruise down the Chicago River. Its CitySpace Gallery features a building timeline and a scale model of downtown Chicago. Chicago History Museum - Explore the history of the fire and the role it played in Chicago’s history at this center set in beautiful Lincoln Park. Photo Credit: City of Chicago and Peter J. Schulz |
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