Top Five Architectural Sites in Chicago

The Windy City showcases some of the top architectural talent in the country, and is a perfect fit for students interested in city planning and design. Below are just a few must-see sites!

1.  Water Tower (1869) W.W. Boyington:
The Chicago fire of 1867 miraculously left this 205ft/62m high water tower and pumping station intact. The building resembles a medieval fortress and is a great example of Gothic style architecture. A tourist information office is now located in the preserved interior.

2.  Reliance Building (1895) Charles Atwood:
This national historic landmark is widely regarded as the first skyscraper to feature a façade made mostly of glass – a concept that took 30 years to gain popularity, but is now present in most modern design.

3.  Frank W. Thomas House (1901) Frank Lloyd Wright:
The Thomas house, located in Oak Park, showcases Wright’s first use of his famous Prairie style of architecture – elevated rooms, low horizontal lines and open interior spaces – as well as his first all- stucco structure.

4.  The Farnsworth House (1950) Ludwig Mies van der Rohe:
Before building of the Farnsworth House began, its one-room, streamlined design of steel and glass was hailed as an architectural masterpiece. The Museum of Modern Art in New York displayed a model of the building in 1947, three years before its completion.

5.  Willis Tower (1973) Bruce Graham:
Formerly known as the Sears Tower, Graham’s soaring skyscraper was the world’s tallest building for 23 years, and is still America’s tallest building. The top of this 110-story architectural marvel grants an unparalleled view of Chicago – don’t miss it!