Chicago is the City of Architecture, the birthplace of the skyscraper. Home to many innovative architects and builders, the city boasts buildings that over the years have been the tallest in the world, the largest as measured in square footage, or the most beautiful due to their decorative ornamentation. They are the focus of this book, with thumbnail sketches of Chicago’s 84 greatest, chosen from among the masonry load-bearing buildings erected immediately after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire to today’s sustainable skyscrapers created using new technologies and materials.

These buildings epitomize varied styles, from the early Chicago commercial office buildings to today’s contemporary skyscrapers. Some have applied ornamentation bespeaking the era of art deco, while others, mid-century moderns, are sleek and stark. Most are easily recognizable by most of us—Sears/Willis Tower anyone?—and some may be favorites of those who consider themselves architectural buffs. A few are hidden gems, perhaps surprising everyone. They all are architecturally significant.

Taken together, these buildings illustrate the glory of Chicago’s skyline in its various iterations over more than 150 years. Enjoy the stories of each of these great buildings and join Chicagoans and author Ellen Shubert in reveling in the city’s great architectural heritage.

Details
Author: Ellen Shubart, CAC Docent
176 pages
Dimensions: ‎ 11 x 8.5 x 1 inches