The Reliance Building
We recently took a tour inside one of the oldest, modern skyscrapers in the world.
Chicago, June 29, 2009 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Originally designed by Daniel Burnham's partner John Root in 1890, but completed by
D.H. Burnham & Co.'s Charles Atwood a few years later, the Reliance Building stands at the forefront of steel-frame, skyscraper construction.
There were many firsts for this building, not the least of which is that the lower two floors
were built under an existing 5 story building. The older structure was jacked up, and 2 new ground floor levels were constructed underneath. Once the tenant leases expired, the old building was demolished, and in 1894 the upper stories of the Reliance Building were constructed. The steel cage of the top 10 floors was built in an astonishing 15 days. And instead of burying the frame in layers of dark masonry, Atwood paid tribute to the light weight sturcture by covering the steel in white-glazed, terra cotta and filled the bays with as much glass as possible.
The interior is decorated with cast-iron grill work, marble and mosaics which are original
to the building, or exact reproductions of the 1890s design.
This building went through some hard times over the years, it was a dump. But the city
stepped up to the plate in 1996 and paid for the renovation and restoration of the exterior while the Kimpton company restored and renovated the interior, converting the Reliance into the Hotel Burnham. The corridors look like they did in 1895, right down to the reproduction light fixtures. But open the doors, and you'll find rooms with all the amenities associated with an upscale boutique hotel.
It's a gem of a building.
Posted by designslinger at 12/10/2009 2:35 AM 
Categories: Architecture,Preservation,History,Decorative Arts
Tags: Reliance Building Chicago John Root Charles Atwood D.H. Burnham
Categories: Architecture,Preservation,History,Decorative Arts
Tags: Reliance Building Chicago John Root Charles Atwood D.H. Burnham
This is a building I've never noticed. Beautiful. Thank you for the detailed inside tour! Really enjoying your posts.
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And thanks for the support. It's greatly appreciated!
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Thank you, what a well done article and photographic sampling to relay the essence of this iconic gem.
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You're welcome! And thanks for the compliment and the visit.
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