The Sky'sThe Limit: A Century of Chicago Skyscrapers

This generously illustrated survey of the Chicago skyscraper traces the fascinating history of the great Chicago School of Architecture, which came into existence in the 1880s and influenced generations of architects worldwide. Beginning with such landmarks as the S.S. Beman Fine Arts Building of 1885 and its neighbor, the Adler and Sullivan Auditorium of 1889, the authors discuss more than a hundred extant buildings dating from 1885 through 1990, including the Wrigley Building of 1922, the Merchandise Mart of 1931, the Inland Steel Building of 1958, and the phenomenal Sears Tower, which from 1974 to 1996, held the title of world's tallest building. The book concludes with a series of skyscrapers in progress by a new generation of architects who have a strong sense of the city's history yet embrace modern technology and styles. Profiles of Chicago's major architectural firms complete the volume.