Saying Goodbye to Chicago, Part Sixteen: The Loop, Vol. Three

The Rookery

Yesterday, I made it to a Chicago architectural masterpiece that I confess to having seen only two or three other times in my life. The Rookery was built in 1887-1888 by architects Daniel H. Burnham and John Wellborn Root. In 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the famous main lobby, incorporating aspects of his Prairie style into the lobby's design. It was Frank Lloyd Wright who introduced the white marble with golden Persian-style ornamentation to the lobby interior, enhancing the naturally light and airy effect that is achieved by the lobby's glass ceiling. The ethereal effect that is achieved with so much white and sunlight is offset dramatically by the dark, metal staircase rising upwards throughout the upper levels of the building.

I will leave you to learn about the technical details of the Rookery's architecture on your own. Suffice it to say that the result of three architects' craftsmanship is an outstanding work of beauty that will leave you stunned. That's how it always leaves me. Yesterday, with the weather changing cyclically between sunlight and gray gloom, and having first experienced the gloominess of City Hall, the bright openness of the Rookery's lobby was such a welcome relief. There is something so soothing about the design that part of me didn't want to leave. As a Chicagoan, I also felt a deep sense of pride that Chicagoans of the past conceptualized and realized such a beautiful design. So much of Chicago's history that comes to people's minds is associated with the city's dark underbelly--the stockyards, the Haymarket massacre, John Dillinger, or Al Capone and gangsters--that we often forget that Old Chicago was also a city of great visionaries, like Daniel H. Burnham, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Jane Addams.

At any rate, the Rookery is a landmark, and quite the attention-getter. Yesterday, I was far from the only person snapping photographs of its beauty. When I entered the building and lingered a few minutes at the entrance, a woman standing next to me turned to me and asked, "Is this building famous? Is it an important building?" A little stunned at being asked such a question, I collected myself and replied simply, "Yes," hoping that one monosyllabic word conveyed just how famous, important, and magnificent the Rookery truly is. Maybe that's expecting a lot of one syllable, but I hope the woman, upon entering the lobby, had the opportunity herself to witness its beauty and to learn about its significance from the informational plaques on the wall.

Here are my photos of the Rookery from yesterday.

Front exterior, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

The exterior of the Rookery is classic 19th century Chicago. The level of ornamentation is kept to a minimum, but it really makes a statement when it is used. The cupolas on top are a nice touch that add a level of sophistication and extravagance to an otherwise austere and formidable building.

Close-up of the front, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Top detail, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Much of the ornamentation is reserved for the front, especially for the top of the building.

Built-in street sign, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

The entrance to the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Grand staircase, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

This staircase is so grand and amazing. Moving towards it makes you feel like you're being transported to a different time, a time when life was more formal and buildings were designed with a sense of grandeur in order to make a statement about a city's high level of cultural advancement.

Glass ceiling, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

As I said, the weather kept shifting between sunny and gray overcast, but when the weather is sunny this sun-bathed lobby is even more stunning.

Staircase leading to upper floors, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

The dark metal staircase leading to the upper levels helps to add a sense of musculature to an otherwise light and airy ambiance, helping to anchor or ground the overall design.

Glass ceiling and Prairie style lamps, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Prairie style lamp, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Ceiling, corner detail, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

Grand staircase, side profile, the Rookery, Chicago, IL

This side photo of the grand staircase is my favorite and the fruit of so much of my photo-taking labor yesterday. As with so much architecture that is intricately designed on such a large scale, it is sometimes a challenge to determine where to focus the camera. This photo offers the staircase as an anchor to the scene while giving you enough of the lobby's design to provide you with an intimation of its overall beauty and spaciousness.