Fernweh

Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Originally founded at a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, it later became a major rail hub and is now the third-largest intermodal port in the world. Its wealth, commercial activity, and events such as the great Chicago Fire led to multiple generations of architectural development and innovation.

Rookery Building

The Rookery Building, built in 1888, is the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago at 181 feet; its external load-bearing stone walls and internal steel frame represent a blend between traditional and modern building techniques. The glass-covered courtyard was famous for the amount of natural light it allowed in. The interior was redesigned in 1905 by Frank Lloyd Wright; the light fixtures used were in line with his Prairie Style work.

A curved, Oriel staircase rises from the second floor, with its wraparound balcony, to the twelfth floor of the building.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, founded in 1967, has a collection of thousands of pieces of post-World War II art. The current building opened in 1996; one of the most famous features in the Josef Paul Kleihues-designed structure is the main staircase.

BP Pedestrian Bridge

The BP Bridge, the first bridge designed by Frank Gehry to be built, spans Columbus Drive to connect Millennium Park (home of “The Bean,” aka Cloud Gate) and Daley Park. At 935 feet long, with many “unnecessary” curves, the design of the bridge prioritizes its beauty and striking shape over the pedestrian realities of getting from Point A to Point B as efficiently as possible.

Chicago Theater

The Chicago Theater was built in 1921 and operated as the flagship of a Midwestern chain of more than 100 movie theaters; with almost 3,900 seats, it was an opulent palace of the golden age of the cinema. Over the decades, business declined and it was renovated and remodeled a number of times. Eventually, it became a venue primarily for live events, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was purchased by Madison Square Garden in 2007.

Aqua

The Aqua tower, completed in 2009, was the world’s tallest building designed by a woman (Jeanne Gang) at the time. It was surpassed in 2020 by the St Regis, also in Chicago, and also designed by Gang. Aqua is 859 feet (262m) tall ands contains hotel, residential, and office space. It is noteworthy for its use of unique and irregularly shaped concrete balconies, which provide views for residents and also help reduce heating through solar gain.

River Point

River Point, a commercial office tower completed in 2017, is located where the North and South branches of the Chicago river form. The curved shape of its eastern face was necessitated by the complex location of its support columns due to its location above active railroad tracks and alongside the river. The south side, facing elevated tracks, adopts a more angular appearance.

At 732 feet (223m) tall, in most cities it would stand out, yet it is only the 22nd-tallest building in Chicago.

James Thompson Center

Originally known as the State of Illinois Center, the postmodern building houses offices of the state government. Taking up an entire city block, the 17-story structure encloses an enormous atrium with a food court. The exterior is often considered to be… not attractive… but the interior provides the opportunity for some striking images.

Ever More Abstracts

The city is full of interesting subjects, indoors and out, small and large. If you enjoy seeing patterns, shapes, colors, and light, it’s a treat to visit.