5 3 W . J A C K S O N B L V D

THE MONADNOCK

HISTORY OF THE MONADNOCK

BUILDING

• Constructed in 1889-1893• Commissioned by Peter and

Shepherd Brooks

• Construction managed by Owen Aldis

• Architects Burnham & Root • Architects Burnham & Root (North building) and Holabird & Roche (South building)

• Built on lots 70 by 200 feet and 68 by 200 feet

• Stands 197 feet tall

• A transitional skyscraper spanning old and new building technologies

http://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/monadnock-building-dearborn-and-jackson-1907/

MODERNIZATION AND RESTORATION

• Designed to operate as four separate office buildings named after New England mountains

• From north to south - Monadnock, Kearsarge, Katahdin and Wachusett

Renovations or “Progressive styling” of 1938• Renovations or “Progressive styling” of 1938

• Modernized to compete with new buildings of the 1920s and to save it from the wrecking ball

• Building sold to William Donnell in 1979

• Couldn’t finance a total remodel

• Chose an incremental restoration to original condition

• Worked from original drawings and two old photographs

Before 1938 restoration After 1938 restoration

ORIGINAL PLANS

ARCHITECTURE FIRM

BURNHAM & ROOT

• John Wellborn Root

• 1850-1891

• Daniel Burnham

• 1846-1912

Met in 1872 as draftsmen • Met in 1872 as draftsmen

• Firm established in 1873

BURNHAM & ROOT

• First major project in 1874

• Montauk Building in1882 for Peter Brooks

• Designed the original Art Institute Institute

• Monadnock Building was Root’s last design

• Burnham and Root buildings include Reliance Building (1891) and the Rookery (1885-1888)

• After Root’s death, Burnham continued adding buildings to the Chicago skyline

BURNHAM & ROOT

ARCHITECTURE FIRM

HOLABIRD & ROCHE

• William Holabird & Martin Roche

• Partnered in 1883

• Constructed many iconic Chicago School buildings

• Monadnock (south building)

• Chicago Building (1904)

• Gage Building (Louis Sullivan façade) (1899)

• Marquette Building (1893-1895)

• Old Colony Building (1894)