The Chicago Traveler

The Chicago Athletic Association Building and Annex are excellent examples of early-20th-century progressive architectural trends. They housed the city’s upscale athletic, dining, and social club. Founded in 1890 by Marshall Field, Henry Ives Cobb, Cyrus McCormick, A. G. Spalding, and others, the CAA was a not-for-profit organization providing a setting for athletic, business, and social endeavors. In 1915, when member William Wrigley bought the Chicago Cubs, the team adopted the CAA logo.
Update (2008-06-17): I gathered the above information about the Cubs’ and CAA logo from their own website. However, evidence has been presented which contradicts this information. According to …read more

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Located at 600 S Michigan Ave, the Alexandroff Campus Center is the main building of the Columbia College Chicago and was the institution’s first structure. It was built in 1906-1907 by Christian A. Eckstorm, an architect popular for his industrial and warehouse designs.
The Center is a classic example of Chicago’s trademark “tall building” design. It was a modern skyscraper of its period, built with a steel skeleton, high-speed elevators, electric light, the most advanced mechanical systems available, and a floor plan designed to maximize natural light for all its interior office spaces. It is predominantly neoclassical, and the Commission on …read more

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Today’s architectural accomplishments are The Tides and The Shoreham, two residential high-rise buildings in the Loop that are similar in size and shape, and together form a rough wall to Lakeshore East Park. The Tides is currently still under construction, but it is set to open later this year. It is one of the tallest buildings in the city at a height of 500 feet (152 m) and with 51 floors. The Shoreham, completed in 2005, has 47 floors and is 450 feet (137 m) tall. The original design called for a gently arched roof, but, as you can see, …read more

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