History of Chicago

1. History of Chicago Skyscrapers Keith Johnsen

2. Contents • The Skyscraper and Chicago • Grain Elevators • Mies Van der Rohe • Louis Sullivan • The Sears Tower • Modern-day Skyscrapers

3. The Skyscraper and Chicago • Chicago was incorporated in 1838 • The first skyscraper was built in 1885 in Chicago, the Home Insurance Building, it was 10 stories • It used a new type of steel structuring that was unique to Chicago • It had a safety elevator made by Elisha Otis

4. Grain Elevators • In the 19th-20th centuries grain elevators were the tallest buildings around • They were sometimes up to 100 feet tall • They dominated the Chicago skyline for decades

5. Mies Van der Rohe • Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe was head of the Institute of Technology briefly • He designed the IBM Plaza as well as 860-880 Lake Shore Drive • He inspired modern architecture and simplicity in architecture in Chicago with architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright

6. Louis Henri Sullivan • “The Father of the Skyscraper” • An extremely influential architect • Built many seminal skyscrapers in Chicago, including the Prudential and Auditorium buildings • Known for his ornate stone work • Many of his buildings still define our skyline

7. The Sears (Willis) Tower • Built in 1973 by Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill • The tallest building in the world until 1998 • Second tallest building in America • Still a modern marvel for its design and construction (“Bundled tube structure)

8. Modern-Day Skyscrapers • Modern steel structures allow for larger buildings • Although Chicago’s buildings are not the tallest, Chicago is still the birthplace of the skyscraper • Chicago structures provide the inspiration for many modern-day goliaths

9. Works Cited • Images courtesy of Google • “History of the Skyscraper” by Francisco Mujica • The Skyscraper Museum • Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM) • “Willis” Tower Thank you for watching the presentation!