Nobody gets up close and personal with architecture quite like crane professionals…the two go hand-in-hand. In preparation for the SCRA Crane & Rigging Workshop conference in Chicago, IL, we decided to put together a list of the most interesting architectural designs found within walking distance of the annual workshop. This year the Crane & Rigging Workshop is being held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in downtown Chicago.
Chicago is such a big city with so much to see, but there are so many amazing buildings very close to the conference center. It would be a shame if attendees missed the opportunity to recognize the unique designs from the early 20th century. Every building listed is within a 20 minute walk from the conference center. Whether you’re looking to get some fresh air or to stretch your legs, we have you covered.
See the Sights:
- Inland Steel Building
- Kluczynski Federal Building
- Chicago Cultural Center
- Richard J. Daley Center
- Chicago Board of Trade Building
- Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
- James R Thompson Center
- Carbide and Carbon Building
- Aon Center
- 330 North Wabash Ave (formerly the IBM building)
- Marina City
- The Wrigley Building
- Aqua Tower
- 333 West Wacker
- Tribune Tower
1 – Inland Steel Building
By Bill Bobzien – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
30 W Monroe St Chicago, IL 60603
Constructed in the years of 1956-1957, this was the first skyscraper built in the Chicago loop following the Great Depression. This is still one of the city’s most defining buildings, which showcases the post-World War Two era of modern architecture.
2 – Kluczynski Federal Building
By US General Services Administration – US General Services Administration, Public Domain, Link
230 S Dearborn St Chicago, IL 60604
Named in honor of Us Congressman John C. Kluczynski, it is the local office for Air Force Recruiting Service, the Department of State Passport Agency, Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Personnel Management, Consumer Product Safety Commission, General Services Administration and offices for both the U.S. senators from Illinois, Richard “Dick” Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
3 – Chicago Cultural Center
By Victorgrigas – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
78 E Washington St Chicago, IL 60602
This Chicago Landmark was once the central library building, and was the nation’s first free municipal cultural center. It is now one of the cities most popular attractions and one of the most comprehensive art showcases in the United States.
4 – Richard J. Daley Center
By User:JeremyA – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link
50 W Washington St Chicago, IL 60602
Named after longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, it is the premier civic center of the city. It was featured in major movie productions like, The Blues Brothers and The Dark Knight. Make sure to get your picture taken in front of this building!
5 – Chicago Board of Trade Building
By Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
141 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60604
The Chicago Board of Trade Building was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. While originally built for the Chicago Board of Trade, it is now the primary trading venue for the derivatives exchange. It is a lasting reminder of the city’s former industrial might.
6 – Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
By Photo taken in 1998 by Wikipedia user Soakologist. No rights claimed or reserved. – From enwiki., Copyrighted free use, Link
233 S Wacker Dr Chicago, IL 60606
The former Sears Tower was once the world’s tallest building and is still one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. It is a 110-story, 1,450-foot skyscraper that has become the 16th tallest building in the world since its completion in 1973. This amazing building sees over 1 million visitors each year; mostly to get a glimpse of the city from the skydecks located on the 99th and 103rd floors.
7 – James R Thompson Center
By Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA – James R. Thompson Center, Chicago, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
100 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60601
This building serves as a secondary capital for the state of illinois and holds offices for the Illinois state government. While the inside may not be in the best condition, it is one of the more fascinating buildings within the city.
8 – Carbide and Carbon Building
By MusikAnimal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
230 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60601
Covered in polished black granite, dark green terracotta, and gold leaf accents, this building is an Art Deco masterpiece as it demonstrates an appearance of the subterranean carbon deposits in the decay of ancient plants. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on May 9, 1996.
9- Aon Center
By Jay Carriker (User:JCarriker) – Author, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link
200 E Randolph Drive Chicago, IL 60601
Formerly the Amoco Building, this skyscraper is the third tallest building in Chicago. When completed in 1974 it was the tallest building in Chicago but was surpassed by the Willis Tower and the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Originally built for Standard Oil of Indiana (Amoco), it had the nickname “Big Stan”.
10 – 330 North Wabash Ave (formerly the IBM building)
By J. Crocker, Attribution, Link
330 N Wabash Ave Chicago, IL 60611
Currently a high end Langham hotel, this was once known as IBM Plaza and home to IBM. Now renamed AMA Plaza, this 52 story building overlooks the Chicago River and its major tenants include the American Medical Association (AMA).
11 – Marina City
By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
300 N State St Chicago, IL 60654
Marina City was the original “city within a city” development. It consists of two 587-foot, 65 story towers, and this was the first building in the United States to be constructed with tower cranes.
12 – The Wrigley Building
400 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611
The Wrigley Building is one of Chicago’s earliest architectural icons. This building was one of the first major office buildings in downtown Chicago, which served as the headquarters for William Wrigley Jr.’s famous chewing gum company.
13 – Aqua Tower
By George Showman – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gshowman/3668250139/, CC BY 2.0, Link
221 N Columbus Dr Chicago, IL 60601
The Aqua skyscraper is an 82 story mixed-use residential building in downtown Chicago. It was previously awarded the Emporis Skyscraper award as 2009 skyscraper of the year.
14 – 333 West Wacker
By MusikAnimal – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
333 W Wacker Dr Chicago, IL 60606
With it’s glossy curves that reflect the Chicago River, this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The design allows the glass to reflect both the sky and the river flowing next to it. It’s one of the must-see buildings in the city.
15 – Tribune Tower
By Luke Gordon – originally posted to Flickr as Chicago 29 Oct116, CC BY 2.0, Link
435 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611
This neo-gothic skyscraper was once the home of the Chicago Tribune, which conducted both publishing and broadcasting from the location. It is listed as a Chicago Landmark, so it is a must-see during a trip into the city.
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