221 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, The Loop 60601 United StatesPrint this page   •   Share this page   •   Map This

One of the great Art Deco piles of Chicago, the LaSalle-Wacker Building is based on a classic design, but doesn't take itself too seriously.

This is one of the few buildings of its era that still embraces and celebrates its heritage. Instead of pretending to be something modern, it illuminates its light wells at night in colored flood light. Its crowning spire can't compete with those on the nearby Sears Tower so it stick a defiant neon finger into the night air to get noticed. A finger that is decked out in Art Deco glory.

Structurally, the building is a classic 1930's skyscraper. A giant H formation on the lower part of the building allows light into the interior. Atop this is a narrow tower which offers great views while sharing the available light with its neighbors and pedestrians.

This is what Chicago architecture was once all about -- the little artistic flourishes that set one brick or limestone-clad building apart from the other. The building, itself, represents a vanishing piece of history. And if you really want to look for vanishing history, check out the art deco ash trays that still exist at the ground level.

We are forunate that this building has a location along the river, or it would be forgotten like so many other Art Deco masterpieces crowded into obscurity in the grit of Chicago's Loop.

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  I like how the building looks, the design is similar to a huge chair. The spire makes it look good that much more, especially at night when the building and spire light up at night.

Brent Kampert - Thursday, November 20th, 2008 @ 11:50am