All the World on the Mag Mile
This is a beautiful computer-generated image of the interior, now being made into condos. Photo courtesy of Crain’s Chicago Business.
Our exploration of Chicago's architectural masterpieces continues with one of its most famous: a true jewel in the heart of the city, the Tribune Tower. Finished in 1925, designed by the American architectural firm of Howells and Hood, it was the official winner of an international architectural contest featuring the entries of over 260 architects from around the world. In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Chicago Tribune company wanted to have a new office building, and they stipulated that it should be “the most beautiful office building in the world.” Though Art Deco was the trendy style of the time, and many architects and architecture enthusiasts felt that the Finnish Eliel Saarinen’s 2nd place entry–a sleek Art Deco design–should have won, it is Howells and Hoods’ Neo-Gothic construction that graces Michigan Avenue today.
Drawing inspiration from the earliest architectural “skyscrapers”–the soaring Gothic churches of Europe–Howells and Hood designed an office building that was Art Deco-sleek in its ascent, but crowned with the graceful Gothic trappings found in its ecclesiastical predecessors. In fact, the Tribune Tower’s design was based on a specific church: the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rouen, France. Construction of this magnificent church began in 1020 and was finished in the early 1500s with the completion of the so-called “Tour de Beurre,” or “Butter Tower,” funded by well-to-do French Catholics who were all too happy to be able to pay for the privilege of eating butter during those hard weeks of self-denial during Lent.
My favorite thing about this famous building is the wonderfully hidden secrets throughout the building’s facade: there are grotesques that offer commentary on the role of newspapers, and even references to fables over the front door. The “Aesop Screen” as it’s called is riddled with characters from Aesop’s fables — which is interesting, when you think about it, that a newspaper headquarters’ front door should be crowned with a reference to fables, and moral fables at that. There are also two winged figures flanking the front door, positioned just beneath the statue-less niches: one — News/Truth — shouts through open hands, while the other — Rumor — whispers mischievously through his fingers. Look for them next time you’re there!
Sad that you can’t go to France to see the inspiration for this Michigan Avenue beauty? T’inquiete pas: you can see a tiny part of it right in the Tribune Tower’s internationally freckled facade. In fact, you can take your own virtual trip around the world simply by taking a trip around its exterior. I’ve posted some shots of some of them below, but I recommend checking them out on your own!
Lastly, an update as of 2020: this building, as many of you know, is being gutted and made into condos as we speak. I posted a lovely interior shot at the top of this post, but if you’d like to read more (which I definitely recommend!), check out the article here.
