History of the Jazz Age at Chicago Art Deco Architecture Tour

Observe the 30 N La Salle St building, completed in 1975 in the place where Chicago Stock Exchange Building stood. Get to know the story about one of the classic works of early skyscraper design with a highly textured and open façade. After the building was demolished, some of its fragments were preserved and relocated to the Art Institute of Chicago, for example a stenciled trading room, and the arch from the main entrance.

Get inside the masterwork of Daniel Burnham and John Wellborn Root completed in 1888, after admiring its opulent exterior. The building is considered the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago thus being in a transition stage from old to new construction techniques. Get a chance to see the lobby renovated by Frank Lloyd Wright and later by his former assistant William Drummond who gave the lobby an Art Deco detailing and brought new interior elements relevant for the time.

Head on to another Chicago Art Deco architectural landmark which is Field Building, also called La Salle National Bank Building. It was completed in 1934 featuring east and west façade entrances which rise the entire height of the four-story base and are framed in black granite. It is also known for being the first office structure in Chicago to be air-conditioned. Apart from that, this was built on the site, where Home Insurance Building stood, the first tall building considered the world’s first skyscraper.

Recall Great Gatsby while marveling at the landmark building of One North La Salle, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For 35 years, since its birth in 1930, the building was the tallest structure in Chicago rising up to 160 m and 48 stories. Now it remains a marvelous example of Art Deco skyscrapers with a gorgeous golden entrance and its tall and elaborately decorated portal.

Feel the real touch of the roaring 20s continuing to the regal 45-story skyscraper of the Chicago Board of Trade Building, an epitome of Art Deco styling. Being one of the best examples of the design in Chicago it gives you a unique opportunity to witness a great contrast to Neoclassical neighboring buildings. Follow your guide to capture all the ornamentation details and reveal what exactly they illustrate making an alloy of the ancient and the modern.

Your architecture immersion won’t be complete without a visit to the Chicago Architecture Center, located at 111 E Wacker Dr. It is a perfect starting point to discover the Windy City’s gorgeous buildings and their legacy. Located right above the Chicago Riverwalk it offers stunning views of the city, inside there is an amazing Skyscraper Gallery for you to enjoy, making that place a must-visit for every architecture geek.