GoChicago.com - The Official Chicago & Illinois Tourist Office Website

In 1871, one of America’s most promising urban centres was devastated by a catastrophic fire that reduced more than 2,000 acres of bustling city to charred, smoky rubble. While some lesser cities would have simply given up after such a devastating event, Chicago used the Great Fire of 1871 as an opportunity to start with a blank urban landscape, and build itself from scratch into a powerful, impressive and modern American city.

Since the Great Fire, hundreds of celebrated architects have put their mark on the dramatic Chicago skyline, from ‘father of the skyscraper’ William Le Baron Jenney, to Modernist legend Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Today Chicago is an architecturally rich mix of impressive buildings old and new, and truly one of the world’s supreme collections of architectural treasures. Thousands of visitors flock to Chicago every year to see some of the most famous, innovative and beautiful architecture in the world.

CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS

The Sears Tower
One of the world’s tallest buildings since its construction in 1974, and still the U.S.A.’s tallest building, the Sears Tower is an impressive Chicago landmark. Standing 1,450 feet (443 metres) high, it totals 1,707 feet (520 metres) including its twin antenna towers. On a clear day, you can see for miles from the highest observatory in Chicago, the Sears Tower Skydeck – 1,353 feet (412 metres) above ground.

The John Hancock Centre
Visitors can experience spectacular views spanning four states (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan) from the Hancock Observatory with an open air sky deck on the 94th floor. With 100 floors stretching up to 1,127 feet (343.5 metres), the John Hancock Centre is recognised for the steel ‘cross bracing’ that makes huge ‘X’s on each side of the black aluminium building. Its gourmet Signature Room restaurant and bar are located on the building’s 95th and 96th floors.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn at Millennium Park
One of Chicago’s newest landmarks is a trademark masterpiece by the legendary architect, Frank Gehry. This sparkling new band shell and music and dance pavilion occupies a key corner of Chicago’s new Millennium Park, and features Gehry’s signature curved metal forms, an intricate lattice of steel tubing that extends over an expansive lawn and multiple winding bridges.

Chicago Cultural Centre
The first stop on any visit to Chicago should be the Chicago Cultural Centre, home of the city's official Visitor Information Centre. This remarkable beaux-arts landmark features both Greek and Roman styles and was completed in 1897 as the city's first permanent main library. It is most notable for two spectacular Tiffany stained-glass domes that are well worth a visit in their own right.

Wrigley Building
One of America’s most picturesque office buildings and home to the namesake chewing gum company, the gleaming white Wrigley Building occupies a beautiful triangular lot at the southern end of Chicago’s famous Magnificent Mile, right on the Chicago River. Built in stages between 1920 and 1931, the Wrigley Building is known for the 250,000 terracotta tiles that cover the exterior, and for the bright colours shone upon it during the city’s annual holiday festivities.

Tribune Tower
Inspired by the Butter Tower of the French cathedral at Rouen, the 463 foot (141 metre), 34-storey gothic style Tribune Tower was designed to house the Chicago Tribune newspaper. The tower has all of the traditional elements of a skyscraper, but also includes classical elements such as flying buttresses, spires, grotesques, and more. Amazingly the tower’s base contains 120 stones from important locations all around the world, including the Parthenon in Greece, the pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China.

Carson Pirie Scott Building
One of the most important structures in early modern architecture, the Carson Pirie Scott Building is famed for its influential modular construction and design. Visionary architect Louis Sullivan shaped this commercial building to merge beauty with a strict adherence to function. It is also an excellent example of Sullivan’s genius for architectural ornament – especially the ornate grillwork surrounding the entrance.

Illinois Institute of Technology Campus
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the leading figures of 20th century modern architecture, left his indelible mark on Chicago’s business and education communities with stark, boxy and revolutionary designs. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the city lies just south of downtown, on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Mies designed 202 buildings for the campus in his renowned ‘International Style’, which incorporates little ornamentation and structural elements that clearly recall construction techniques.

Marshall Field’s Building
One of the world’s greatest department stores – and the inspiration for London’s Selfridges – Marshall Field’s is also the home of a world-class Tiffany glass dome. The dome is the largest glass mosaic of its kind and the first-ever built in iridescent glass.

James R. Thompson Center
The controversial Thompson Center, designed by Chicago’s most prominent living architect – Helmut Jahn – in 1985, has been likened to a spaceship by some and a village by others. The startling design houses the offices of the Illinois State government, and features a tremendous lobby atrium, as well as liberal use of glass, exposed mechanics and blue and salmon-coloured steel.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

The works of Frank Lloyd Wright clearly demonstrate why the founder of the Prairie Style of architecture is a true legend. The world’s largest collection of Wright-designed homes is clustered in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park and nearby River Forest, including his Home & Studio complex and the Unity Temple. The Robie House in Chicago’s Hyde Park is also a design gem, and has been called ‘the cornerstone of modern architecture’.

HOW TO EXPLORE CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURE

Chicago’s architectural tours have become one of the most popular activities among visitors, with tours to fit every interest, area and budget.

Chicago by Boat
Visitors can marvel at the soaring towers of the Chicago Loop business district while enjoying sparkling river views. The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s (CAF) Architectural Riverboat Cruise is narrated by experienced docents, and spotlights more than 50 historic and architecturally significant sites from a unique perspective. Guests simply purchase tickets, and board the 90-minute cruise on Chicago's First Lady or Chicago's Little Lady at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue & Wacker Drive at the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Cruises run seasonally, with advance reservations highly recommended.

Chicago From The Lake’s 200 passenger boat at North Pier also features a 90-minute lakefront tour of over 100 skyscrapers, guided by experts in architectural history. This is a very popular cruise, so advance booking is recommended to avoid missing out.

Chicago by Foot
The CAF offers a great selection of tailored walking tours on a variety of architectural themes, including Historic Skyscrapers and Modern Skyscrapers. For a two-to-four hour informal, insider tour to Chicago's sights, try Chicago Greeter, a volunteer-based service that shows the city to visitors. To find a friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable local for a personalised tour by foot and public transport, just register online at ww.chicagogreeter.com for a greeter that will match your interests. Please allow at least seven business days to match and confirm your visit. The visits start at the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center, 77 East Randolph Street.

Chicago by Bus
One can also discover the exciting diversity of Chicago’s finest buildings on CAF’s wide-ranging trip, Highlights by Bus. Trips cover 30 miles of Chicago architecture, including the Loop, Hyde Park and Gold Coast areas, as well as historic districts, university campuses, parks and residential neighbourhoods.

So whatever the reason for visiting Chicago, visitors are sure to be dazzled by the diversity of the city’s spectacular architecture.

For more information or to obtain a brochure, call the Chicago & Illinois Tourist Office’s Freephone Brochure Line on 08700 503410 or visit online www.gochicago.com

For further information or photography, (media only) please contact Jackie Cooper PR:

BUILDING DETAILS

Today’s architectural marvels

The Sears Tower
233 South Wacker Drive
Tel: +1 312 875 9696
www.searstower.com
www.the-skydeck.com

John Hancock Centre
875 N. Michigan Avenue
Tel: +1 312 751 3681
www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com
www.hancock-observatory.com

Chicago Cultural Centre
78 East Washington Street

The Tribune Tower
435 North Michigan Avenue

Carson Pirie Scott Building
1 South State Street
Tel: +1 312-641-7000
www.saksincorporated.com

Marshall Field’s Building
111 North State Street
Tel: +1 312 781-1000
www.marshallfields.com

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio and Unity Temple
Tickets & tour starting point:
Ginkgo Tree Bookshop
951 Chicago Avenue
Oak Park (open daily 10am - 5pm)
Tel: +1 708.848.1978
www.wrightplus.org

Robie House
Tickets & tour starting point:
Robie House bookshop
5757 South Woodlawn Avenue
Hyde Park (on the campus of the University of Chicago)
Tel: +1 708 848 1978 / 1976
www.wrightplus.org/robiehouse

How to explore Chicago’s architecture

CAF’s Architectural River Boat Cruise
Michigan Avenue Bridge Dock
Ticketmaster, +1 312 902 1500 or www.architecture.org/river

CAF’s Walking & Bus Tours
For tickets and tour starting points:
CAF Shop & Tour Center
Santa Fe Building
224 South Michigan Avenue
Tel: +1 312 922 3432
www.architecture.org

Chicago Greeter
Chicago Cultural Centre
Visitor Information Centre
77 East Randolph Street
Tel: +1 312.744.8000
www.chicagogreeter.com