Federally Funded


[Chicago Federal Center (1959-1974) Mies van der Rohe; C.F. Murphy; Schmidt, Garden & Erikson; A. Epstein & Sons;
associates /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

It's 1955, and the U.S. economy is booming. After the Second World War, with Europe in
ruins, it was this country's turn in history's drivers seat. The American middle class became the largest economic engine the world had ever seen, and the federal government under President Dwight D.(Ike) Eisenhower, flush with cash, spent billions of dollars on the nation's infrastructure. Under Ike, we got our Interstate roadway system and a commitment by the federal government to modernize their institutional buildings around the country, which is how Chicago got its Federal Center, a group of buildings that were at the cutting-edge of contemporary design.


[Kluczynski Federal Building; Flamingo, Alexander Calder /Image & Artwork: designslinger]

Led by architect Mies van der Rohe's 1959 plan, an association of architects and
contractors built the three building federal complex over a period of years extending from 1962 to 1974. The Kluczynski Federal Office Building and the U.S Post Office Loop Station replaced the old Beaux Arts courthouse designed by Henry Ives Cobb in 1898. While many in Chicago's emerging preservation movement were against demolishing the old courthouse, federal employees were happy to see the antiquated building go. And in 1974 when Alexander Calder unveiled his Flamingo in Federal Plaza, the design was complete.


[U.S. Post Office, Loop Station (1973) /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
The post office is one of my favs. Mies' wide-open, rectangular frame, freed of internal
structural support and its walls of glass, was one more momentous step toward exploding the confining walls of the architectural box. I find it a real charmer. And this 3 building group, along with its Calder stabile, are a testament government's embrace of, and monetary commitment to, excellence in design.

Posted by designslinger at 9/2/2010 1:35 AM
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: government buildings Schmidt Garden and Erikson C.F. Murphy and Asoociates A. Epstein and Sons Mies van der Rohe Federal Center Buildings
 

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  • 9/2/2010 9:02 AM Michael Saper wrote:
    The post office, in my opinion, is the best Mies building in the Loop. It is surprisingly intimate for a building of such large scale; and I cannot really figure out why. It is almost as good as his first IIT buildings. Also, re the old Cook County Courthouse, take a look at the newer one (26th and California), which was built in the late 1920's. Wonderful design details. MSS
    1. 9/2/2010 3:18 PM designslinger wrote:
      We'll have to journey over to 26th and Cal. Mies' post office box is a real charmer. Went to school at IIT. Spent many an hour in Crown Hall. Loved the building, hated school!
  • 9/5/2010 4:04 AM Kelvin wrote:
    Calder is one of my favorite artists, even though he seems to be much more dismissed these days. His stabiles are so beautiful and profound. Thank you again for enriching my life on a daily basis. I hope you two are doing well.
    1. 9/5/2010 8:12 AM designslinger wrote:
      We are well. And thank you so much for the very kind words!
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