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Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisSideofSteinway (Post 3475399)

What a loss - I'm afraid to ask what replaced it...

Anywho, there is only one real reply to a thread of this caliber.

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Federal Plaza, one of the more significant and pristine Modernist spaces ever built. Designed by Mies, with a Calder sculpture in the plaza.
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/fe...nter/index.htm

So at least the replacement was decent, but yeah the old building was incredible too.

pic courtesy of Lynn Becker:
http://www.lynnbecker.com/repeat/fedplaza/fromwest.jpg

Posted by Ethereal Reality in the Waterview forum.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3...lewackegx8.jpg

Cool shots.

I wonder how long it took to build one floor of the Merchandise Mart. Absolutely massive.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1773/19294ab5.jpg

Outer Drive Bridge nearing completion in 1937.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9...uge0508bc1.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/2...sabaughgd6.jpg
Chicago in 1964 by Art Sinsabaugh

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6...ago1912kj4.jpg
Chicago and North Western Station 1911.
Destroyed in 1984 and replaced by a mediocre Helmut Jahn building.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4...lesannozx9.jpg
This is an obscure family slide from 1953.
Can anyone here place the location for me? Thanks

ethereal, that last one was taken from the driveway at the concourse of Union Station, looking east across the south branch of the river.. The concourse, which actually sat above the tracks unlike the Great Hall 1 block west, was torn down in 1969 to be replaced with two modernist office boxes.

hi ardecila
Here is a pic of the lamented concourse (destroyed 1969) with the
Great Hall of Union Station directly behind.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4...scan192hu4.jpg

I didn't realize cars could park along that north/south driveway on the west side of the Chicago River (directly in front of the concourse ).
I can vaguely pick out the classical lighting fixture(s) that appear in the slide....AND in the concourse photograph.

You're really good at this. I'm impressed. :)

ardecila-
Do you have any information on the office tower that was originally
to rise above the Great Hall?

All I have is this tiny postcard...

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3...ion1925pu3.jpg

and I just found this illustration.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6...nchgounro6.jpg

Also, what is the expansive building directly north of the Great Hall?

I didn't know that about Union Station, the concourse.
When I took a train out of there in Feb, I thought it was kind of strange when I realized I was walking east out of the station footprint, under the street and into the basement of a building across the street.
Makes more sense now.

Diagonally across the river (and to the south) at Harrison and Wells
was Grand Central Station (1890)

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9...63publida4.jpg

It featured a 247 foot tower with a clock
13 feet in diameter (largest in the United States).

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9...ionchgosn6.jpg

Grand Central Station was razed in 1971.

Looking down towards the Millenium Park area in 1938

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8...ont1938ix2.jpg

this is pretty much the same location 50 years earlier.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5...nt1880szj5.jpg

Great Pics! I do not see why people love the Mies Federal Plaza and Buildings; the dome federal building was Much, Much Better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethereal_reality (Post 3564826)

Looking down towards the Millenium Park area in 1938

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8...ont1938ix2.jpg

now that is some cool stuff. nice find. :tup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoguy1 (Post 3566264)

Great Pics! I do not see why people love the Mies Federal Plaza and Buildings; the dome federal building was Much, Much Better.

They're both great, but I'd prefer it if the old building were still standing. Chicago has plenty of other Mies buildings.

I had to check out this thread again...and HOLY FREAKING GOD, words cannot come close to describing the level of pure Godliness present here. It's unfuckingbelievable.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8...blizzarsg9.jpg

Art Institute of Chicago, 1939 blizzard.

Masonic Temple Building.....world's tallest 1892 to 1894.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4...gescan1gt2.jpg

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