People’s Choice Elite Eight, (3) Monadnock Building vs. (6) The Rookery Building

Known for its world-renowned architecture, Chicago has more than its fair share of stellar buildings and towers. From the Sears Tower downtown, to the Frederick C. Robie House out in the neighborhoods, famous architects keep coming back to put their mark on our skyline. We have dozens of iconic buildings around our city, but there can only be one that is the best!

In the spirit of March Madness, it’s time to figure out exactly which building is the favorite. With the bracket filled by all of you readers, it’s time to start voting!

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(3) Monadnock Building

Stats:

53 W. Jackson Blvd

Height: 215 feet

Constructed: 1891-1893

Architect: Burnham & Root, Holabird & Roche

Built in two phases, the Monadnock Building exhibits the shift from load-bearing masonry construction to steel frame construction. The northern half, designed by Burnham & Root, was built with load-bearing masonry, with walls reaching six feet in thickness at the base. Built just two years later, the southern half, designed by Holabird & Roche, features a brick and terracotta facade with bay windows. At the time of its completion, the Monadnock Building was the largest office building in the world.

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(6) The Rookery Building

Stats:

209 S. LaSalle St

Height: 181 feet

Constructed: 1888

Architect: Burnham & Root

The Rookery Building’s exterior is an experiment in using historical decorative elements to inform a contemporary office building in the late 19th century. The facade contains decorative elements reminiscent of late Roman, Venetian, Moorish and medieval-European architecture. Horizontal bands across the Adams and LaSalle facades draw the eye side to side to minimize the perceived height of the building. The interior light court maximizes the light and air inside the structure and was renovated by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907.

Cast your vote below!