About Chicago
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More infoChicago is an important city in the history of architecture for many reasons. It's not only considered the birthplace of the skyscraper, but it's also the birthplace of the first American architecture.
The Great Fire that lasted from October 8 to October 9, 1871 burned for thirty-six hours, killed 300 people and destroyed a third of the city. The area leveled by the fire was about four miles long and one mile wide. Although this left the city in ashes, it did not slow the city's rapid growth. It also left plenty of room for architects to design modern structures.
The city's population doubled from 1880 to 1890 causing real estate prices to skyrocket. In addition, natural and man-made forces limited the boundaries of the city. To the North and West, the downtown area was surrounded by the Chicago River. The stockyards to the South completed this boundary. The obvious solution to these limitations was to make buildings taller.
The Home Insurance Building, designed by William Le Baron Jenney and completed in 1885, is considered by many to be the world's first skyscraper. The building featured a steel frame allowing it to be taller than past buildings. Although this steel frame was supplemented by masonry construction, the Home Insurance Building still had the important features of the modern skyscraper including advancements in elevators, foundations, lighting and climate control.
Although the Home Insurance Building was demolished in 1931 to make way for the Field Building, it is still an important piece of the history of skyscrapers. Jenney was really an engineer rather than an architect. His engineering knowledge, honed by building bridges for the North during the Civil War, was important to these many developments.
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In addition to the contributions from his buildings, Jenney also trained a number of important Chicago architects in his office including Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, William Holabird, and Martin Roche.
The work of these architects, as well as many others, was later labeled the Chicago School of Architecture. This style was a true break from the East Coast architects of the time who were routinely designing architecture highly influenced by Roman and Greek classical styles. In addition to being viewed as the first true American style, many say that the work of the Chicago School laid the groundwork for the Modernists.
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Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most famous modern architects, also started his career in Chicago. He began as an apprentice to Louis Sullivan, but later started his own practice in Oak Park. See my links page to learn more about Wright.
Finally, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was one of the important architects among the Mondernists. He came to Chicago in 1938 and became the head of architecture at the Armour Institute, later renamed the Illinois Institute of Technology. Through his teaching and his designs, he was extremely influential in the work of the Modernists and would have a lasting influence on Chicago and architecture for many years to come.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) is a non-profit organization that advances pubic interest and appreciation of architecture. They are based in the Santa Fe Building (224 S. Michigan) across from the Art Institute. The Chicago Architecture Center contains lots of information about Chicago architecture and history. In addition they have changing exhibits, as well as a store from which you can buy tickets for their tours. If you are even somewhat interested in architecture, the CAF tours are a great way to see Chicago's architecture, and learn more about Chicago history. They offer over 75 tours, so I'm sure you can find something that meets your interests.
Their most popular tours are the historic skyscraper tour, the modern skyscraper tour, the their boat tour. The two skyscraper tours are held every day year round and are walking tours focused on the architecture of the loop. If you don't feel like walking, or want to cover more ground, the boat tour will give you a taste of a lot of the architecture in Chicago. The boat tour usually sells out, so get your tickets early for it.
Note: I have newer and higher quality photos of Chicago buildings that I will update these pages with soon. I also have additional buildings I would like to add but I can't promise I'll get that done soon.