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| Willis Tower |
Yes, you're at the right place. Willis Tower was the Sears Tower
until mid 2009, when insurance broker Willis Group Holdings bought the
naming rights. No matter what you call it, it's still the USA's tallest
building (1454ft), and its 103rd floor Skydeck puts visitors way up in
the clouds.
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| Location (Click photo) |
Enter via Jackson Blvd, then take the elevator down to
the waiting area, where you go through security and pay admission.
Queues can be up to an hour on busy days (peak times are in summer,
between 11am to 4pm Friday through Sunday). There's a factoid filled
film to watch, and then the ear popping, 70 second ride to the top. Step
onto the glass floored Ledge for a feeling of mid air suspension and
knee buckling view straight down. For those who prefer a drink with
their vista, the Gold Coast's John Hancock Center is a better choice.
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| Monadnock Building |
The North half of the
Monadnock was John Wellborn Root’s last and boldest design. Root caught
pneumonia and died at the age of 41, while the building was under
construction. At the time of his death, in addition to running Chicago’s
largest architectural practice, John Root and Daniel Burnham were
responsible for the design and construction of the World’s Columbian
Exposition, which was to open the following year. Root’s death forced
Burnham to concentrate his energies on the Exposition, so when the north
half of the Monadnock rented quickly and its owners decided to build the
south half right away, they commissioned another firm to design it:
Holabird & Roche, the second largest practice in the City.
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| Location (Click Photo) |
The two halves of the
building are similar in scale and color, but quite different in style. The
north half is often called a fountainhead of modern architecture because
of its total absence of exterior ornament. Root evidently felt that all
that was needed here was graceful form for the structure itself. The south
half of the building, on the other hand, is a masterful early application
of classical architectural principles to the design of a tall building.
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| Front View, From Street |
The Monadnock also
marks a historic transition in the development of structural methods. Most
of the buildings that preceded it were supported by their outside walls.
The north half of the Monadnock is probably the tallest building ever
built that is supported primarily by brick walls. At ground level, those
walls are six feet thick. Half of the south half of the building is built
the same way, but the south quarter of the building is supported entirely
by a steel frame, as were most of the tall buildings that followed it.
Today, this is called “curtain wall” construction: the façade doesn’t
support the building, it’s just a “curtain” to keep out the elements.
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| Interior |
The Monadnock was
designed so that it could operate as four separate office buildings. Each
section stands on its own lot, and at one time each section had its own
entrance, elevators, heating system and name: from north to south, they
were the Monadnock, the Kearsarge, the Katahdin, and the Wachusett, each
the name of a Union navy ship and also the name of a mountain in the
developers’ native New England.
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| The
Rookery Building
As one of the most historically significant buildings in
Chicago, The Rookery is a unique enclave for businesses that value a
prestigious presence. An icon in the center of Chicago's downtown Financial District,
The Rookery seamlessly combines the flair of an era gone by with
state-of-the-art building systems and technology. Designated a Chicago Landmark
in 1972 after being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970,
The Rookery is universally considered an architectural masterpiece.
Designed by famous architectural partners Burnham and Root,
the picturesque Rookery was originally completed in 1888. Adding to its
impressive stature, Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the stunning two story,
skylit lobby in 1905. Meticulously renovated and maintained, The Rookery stands
as one of the most highly recognized addresses in all of Chicago.
The Rookery is nestled in the midst of a bustling financial
core and one block from the Chicago Board of Trade, W Hotel, Club Quarters
Hotel, Federal Reserve Building, Federal District, and countless restaurants
and retailers to suit your occasion. Access is excellent with public
transportation stations within easy walking distance.
The Rookery
is one of Chicago's most sought after buildings. Tenants enjoy the building’s
rich historical significance and its state-of-the-art systems and technologies.
The large exterior windows and exposure to the magnificent light court provide
abundant natural light to the office spaces. We invite you to visit The Rookery
and to become a part of Chicago’s beloved icon.
Celebrate your special occasion amidst the gallantry of The
Rookery. You and your guests will be delighted by the timeless beauty of Frank
Lloyd Wright's masterful designs within the building's Light Court. The
ambiance at The Rookery cannot be matched.
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