The Rookery Building Interior - Chicago
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
The Rookery Building Interior - Chicago
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Rookery Building, completed in 1888, is the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago. It was eleven stories tall when completed, but a twelfth floor was added in 1988.
Designed by Chicago architects Daniel Burnham and John Root, the building is considered one of their greatest masterpieces. It was also the home of their architecture firm.
On the interior, a revolutionary new technique for the 19th Century, known as "grillage foundation," was used to allow for a large expanse of glass. This allowed for the airy birdcage-like glass ceiling Burnham and Root called the Light Court at the center of the building.
Frank Lloyd Wright was hired in 1905 to renovate the two-story atrium. Wright removed much of the ornate ironwork and terra cotta details in the Light Court, replacing it with gilded marble and his trademark strong geometric patterns. William Drummond renovated the building again in 1931, introducing the Art Deco aesthetic. Most recently, the building received a complete restoration in 1988.
Today, the Rookery Building is a favorite site for weddings and formal receptions. When I photographed the Light Court, the business windows on the ground floor were in the process of being draped for such an occasion.
The Rookery Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In addition, it was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972 and a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
July 12th, 2022
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