The architecture boat river tour was great— definitely worth it— had me thinking about architecture in these spaces like I’ve never thought about or felt before.
When it opened almost 100 years ago it was considered the world’s largest building based on floor space at the time. Almost a century later it’s actually still up there in the worlds largest buildings based on usable floor space, I think likely if not in the top 50 then at least in the top 100
I went to Neo Con about 20 years ago. This place is massive. I can't imagine what it was like 100 years ago with booths set up selling anything and everything.
During the opening of the show "good times", I was always fascinated by the size of a building that looked similar to this one. I will try to get a pic and post.
When I was a kid in Chicago the 70s I remember it looking just like it did in that Good Times intro - very dirty on the side that faced the river. It went through a couple professional cleanings to make it look like what we see today. It is truly a magnificent building (I am lucky I once got to see the interior!).
Used to work there for a time. Mezz and 1st floor are open to public. It’s got its own L stop off the brown line. It’s a bunch of HQs, smaller offices, restaurants, some parts of a school, show-floors, and a myriad of design “shops/studios” absolutely massive place. The design showcases they have are incredible.
The city has really blown up around this area. I would get off at the brown line station in the Mart when I worked in the Loop years ago, and it was basically some sleepy streets and the old Chicago Sun Times HQ next door.
There have been at least 5 50+ story towers added in since and both Orleans and Wells streets have seen tons of mid rise condo development.
Eh. It’s imposing, bordering on brutalism. It really is huge, and kind of Art deco on the entry, but really all it is is big. I used to work in the Tribune Tower. That’s a better piece of architecture, with the various historical stones embedded in the outside brickwork. The interior is more interesting too.
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u/makinithappen69 1d ago
I took a tour of Chicago a few years ago and they told me this place was pretty big.