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The Sears Tower may be Chicago’s architectural shining star, but skyline neighbor 311 South Wacker Drive is a dazzling princess, complete with a beautiful crown.
Completed in 1990, this 65-story skyscraper stands 961 feet tall (293 m), making it the tallest building in the world to be known only by its street address. With few nearby […]
Today’s apartment block is simple yet unique. Completed in 2002, the Wells Street Tower has 34 stories and stands 388 feet tall (118 m). While the green glass gives the building a modern feel, it’s the right triangle of a roof that makes it memorable. And what artistic expression does this interesting pyramid achieve? Well, […]
If you’ve been to Chicago’s downtown area, you know one of its neighborhoods is called “the Loop,” named after the circular path created by the ‘L’ train tracks. Completed in 1969, the Chase Tower (across the street from Three First National Plaza) stands 850 feet tall (259 m) and is the tallest building within the […]
One of the questions I often get from out-of-towners is “Have you ever been to a Jerry Springer show?” No, I haven’t, but I do know someone who was once on the show. (That’s a story for another time.) In case you didn’t know, the Jerry Springer show is filmed right here in Chicago, inside […]
I know what you’re thinking. This 1928 24-story high-rise doesn’t look like interesting at all. And you’re right. There’s nothing about it physically that makes it stand out. Rather, what makes this building distinctive is its name… or perhaps, lack thereof.
Near the Seventeenth Church, what was formerly the Millinery Mart Building was renamed after its […]
Did you watch the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony? What an amazing display! The Beijing National Stadium, which hosted the ceremony, is also an incredible sight. Nicknamed the “Bird’s Nest,” the stadium is made up of twisting, interconnected steel pieces, inspired by traditional Chinese pottery.
If you’d like to see this architectural marvel yourself, you can […]
The Columbus Drive Bridge may not look like much, but it is actually the second-longest bascule bridge in the world. (If you happen to know which is the longest, I’d love to hear from you. I had difficulty finding this information.) A bascule bridge is the movable type of drawbridge which people are probably most […]
As the saying goes, “there’s strength in numbers.” That’s certainly the case with the Presidential Towers, a residential complex that spans two city blocks (near 525 West Monroe). Each of these buildings wouldn’t seem like much on its own. Built in 1985, the towers are 49 stories tall and “boring brown.” However, standing four strong […]
While Chicago’s architecture is incredible in terms of shapes and sizes, it doesn’t always offer much in the way of color. Most of these giants of steel and glass are some shade of black or gray. Standing out from the crowd in a unique red dress is the CNA Plaza.
While the building only stands 44 […]
I sincerely hope that when you visit today’s architectural feature, it is from the outside only. At the intersection of Clark and Van Buren Streets, located in downtown Chicago, is the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Completed in 1975, the MCC is a 289-foot tall (88 m) administrative facility, more commonly known as a prison. It houses federal […]
A guide to what\'s going on in the Chicago area
Written by Kristin Peoples [email] for b5media.
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