The Chicago Traveler

May 26th, 2008

John Hancock Center: the OTHER Black Skyscraper

Earlier today, I wrote about Chicago’s architectural icon, the Sears Tower. I feel it necessary now to write about its older, shorter brother, the John Hancock Center.

It amazes me just how many tourists confuse the two. To me, the Sears Tower and John Hancock look nothing alike. Whereas the Sears Tower is made of nine […]

By Matt B -- 11 comments

May 26th, 2008

Sears Tower Stands Above All

Welcome to The Chicago Traveler’s 500th post! For this milestone, it’s time to feature Chicago’s claim to fame, the Sears Tower.

In a city known for its architecture, this is the cream of the crop. Constructed like nine square columns, the building reaches a height of 1451 feet (442 m) and 110 stories with 104 elevators. […]

By Matt B -- 9 comments

May 12th, 2008

181 West Madison

If you’ve never heard of or seen this building, you aren’t alone. And it really is a shame because 181 West Madison is 50 stories of great design and architecture (kitty-corner from Madison Plaza). Completed in 1990, the structure stands 680 feet (207 m) tall, making it one of the top 20 tallest buildings in […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 25th, 2008

Madison Plaza

After planning the Three First National Plaza, the same architects designed another building with the same “sawtooth edge,” giving the southeast face six corners. As a result, the Madison Plaza has nine corner offices on most of its 45 floors. The 599-foot (182 m) structure was originally meant to be one of two, but the […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

February 18th, 2008

Chicago Board of Trade Building

The Chicago Board of Trade Building has towered over the LaSalle Street “canyon” since its completion in 1930. With 44 floors and standing at 605 feet (184 m), it was Chicago’s tallest building from 1930 until 1965 (when it was surpassed by the Daley Center). It has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

February 4th, 2008

Trump International Hotel and Tower

Despite all of Chicago’s architectural successes, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a new tower of incredible height to crane our necks at. After all, both the Sears Tower and the Aon Center were built in the ‘70s. So in 2000, when Donald Trump announced his plans to build the world’s tallest […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

January 28th, 2008

Chicago Athletic Association

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 […]

By Matt B -- 6 comments

January 21st, 2008

The Tides & The Shoreham

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 […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

January 7th, 2008

333 Wacker Drive

One of Chicago’s architectural “celebrities” is 333 Wacker Drive, with its blue-green curve of glass that follows the bend of the Chicago River as it splits into its North and South branches. Located on what is possibly the only triangular site in the city’s urban grid, this building was featured in posters for the film […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

January 7th, 2008

Aqua

Today’s architectural marvel isn’t even finished yet, but the blueprints alone have many design enthusiasts buzzing. Aqua will easily be one of the most innovative and recognizable buildings in the Chicago skyline.  (Incredible photos are available here and here.)
Let’s get some basic stats out of the way. Construction began in March of 2007, and the […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment