Architectural Heritage
Chicago is arguably the most architecturally significant city in America. After the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed the city center, architects flocked to Chicago and invented the skyscraper. The city has been a laboratory for architectural innovation ever since — from Louis Sullivan and the Chicago School, to Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Style, to Mies van der Rohe's glass-and-steel modernism.
Signature Styles
Chicago School
Born from the ashes of the Great Fire, the Chicago School pioneered steel-frame construction and the modern skyscraper. The Rookery Building (1888) by Burnham & Root exemplifies this era, with its innovative light court later remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Beaux-Arts & Art Deco
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition brought Beaux-Arts grandeur to Chicago. The Art Institute (1893) and the Wrigley Building (1924) represent this era beautifully, while later Art Deco towers like the Chicago Board of Trade added glamour to the skyline.
International Style & Modernism
Mies van der Rohe's move to Chicago in 1938 transformed the city. His 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments (1951) defined modernist residential architecture worldwide. The Willis Tower (1973) and John Hancock Center (1969) by Fazlur Khan pushed structural engineering into new territory.
Notable Buildings
- Willis Tower (Sears Tower) — Fazlur Khan's 1973 bundled-tube masterpiece, once the world's tallest
- 860-880 Lake Shore Drive — Mies van der Rohe's revolutionary 1951 glass towers
- Art Institute of Chicago — 1893 Beaux-Arts original with Renzo Piano's Modern Wing (2009)
- John Hancock Center — The iconic X-braced tower (1969) by SOM
- Rookery Building — Burnham & Root's 1888 Chicago School landmark with Wright's light court
- Wrigley Building — The gleaming white terra-cotta tower (1924) on the Magnificent Mile
- Marina City — Bertrand Goldberg's iconic "corncob" towers (1964), a bold experiment in mixed-use urban living
- Aqua Tower — Jeanne Gang's undulating 2009 skyscraper, one of the most celebrated buildings of the 21st century
- Chicago Cultural Center — Home to the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome
Neighborhoods to Explore
The Loop & Michigan Avenue
The architectural heart of Chicago, where the Chicago School was born and where the skyline continues to evolve. The Chicago Architecture Center offers boat tours along the river.
Gold Coast & Old Town
Mies van der Rohe's Lake Shore Drive towers anchor a neighborhood of elegant high-rises and historic mansions.
Oak Park
Just west of the city, Oak Park contains the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings, including his Home and Studio where Prairie Style was born.
Contemporary Scene
Chicago remains at the forefront of architecture. Jeanne Gang's Aqua Tower, the St. Regis (Vista Tower), and the planned Obama Presidential Center by Tod Williams Billie Tsien ensure the city's architectural legacy continues to grow.
