1880s–1910s
Chicago school, is a group of architects of the 19th century. They introduced new types, one is the skyscraper. It influenced business growth, the development of large national corporations and new technologies. Businesses expanded and more space was needed, and as there was very scarce land, buildings had to grow in height. This was thanks to other new technologies like the elevator, invented by Elisha Graves Otis.
William Le Baron Jenney was the creator of the first building constructed with iron skeleton. And along with four other architects, Daniel Burnham, William Holabird, Martin Roche and Louis Sullivan, became leaders of the Chicago School.
Design features: The first buildings have facades grid patterns, large windows and very little adornment; steel skeletons to replace bearing walls, elevators, cast iron columns and steel beams, curtain walls.
They were built mostly in the corners of major streets, and were intended for offices, auditoriums, shopping malls, hotels, banks and libraries. Its plan was rectangular in shape, had a central corridor with rooms on either side, its prominent entries had two halls and circulation areas. They were built of brick, tile, granite or other stone, and had some decorative details of cast iron.
Their facades had large scale, verticality, repetition, order and simplicity. Its windows were rectangular grids of glass, they covered most of the facade, entrances were Monumental and had stone arches. Roofs were not very visible due to the heavy cornices. There was much advantage of natural light.
Trends: structuralist and neomedievalista Neomedievalista Luis Sullivan Sullivan, Louis. Auditorium building de Chicago, 1886-89. Hall of opera.
Sullivan, Louiss. Almacenes Carson 1899-1904.
Structuralist The pioneer and head of this trend is the aforementioned William Le Baron Jenney (18321907). Le Baron Jenney, William. Leiter Building iile Baron Jenney, William. Home Insurance Building. Chicago, 1884.Burnham and Root.
Roockery Building (1885-1888), staircase and dome acristalada. Burnham and Root. 1891 Monadnock building.