Chicago Skyscrapers, 1871–1934 by Thomas Leslie (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2013

REVIEWS 283 Chicago Skyscrapers, 1871–1934 By Thomas Leslie (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2013. Pp. xi, 234. Illustrations, maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. $39.95.) Post-Fire Chicago was an intense con- plain “the city’s skyscraper evolution struction site for decades. Between from five-story mill construction at the 1871 and 1934, 330 major buildings time of the Fire to a type recognizable were erected—some of them short- by 1934 as the basic template for tall lived, others still standing today. This building construction throughout the book is a sweeping and thorough twentieth century” (p. xv). examination of the forces that shaped Leslie divides his book into chap- that long generation of building ters dealing consecutively with a construction—soil conditions, fire, range of constructive types. He materials, programs, technologies, chronicles the movement from early clients, and codes. Descriptions of the taller masonry buildings to skeletal constant changes in these forces are frames, wind-braced frames, and intertwined with accounts of Chicago terra-cotta skins, through to twenti- architects’ quick responses to the op- eth-century towers with more solid portunities that they afforded. curtain walls that took advantage of Chicago Skyscrapers is also an ac- changes in codes, more sophisticated count of the architectural history and construction methods, electric lights, criticism that have surrounded this and elevators. Readers move through activity. The buildings of this era have time with a constant awareness of occupied critics and historians for changing developments in design and decades. The author cites early writ- construction. Floating foundations ers such as Montgomery Schuyler and unique to the city are challenged Thomas Tallmadge and incorporates by piles and ultimately replaced by critiques from Inland Architect and the caissons, which were first used in Chicago Tribune, as well as the writings Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan’s of architects of the times. The book Chicago Stock Exchange. Fireproof- is rooted, in part, in the writings and ing begins with masonry walls and debates about what was christened the columns; terra cotta was soon dis- “Chicago School”—a term employed by covered to be a lighter and equally Carl Condit in his iconic 1952 book The effective cladding. Leslie also charts Rise of the Skyscraper, critiqued numer- the movement from wrought iron to ous times since. Leslie proceeds in what cast iron to steel and the accompa- he refers to as a “developmental narra- nying improvements in connections tive,” one that categorizes “Chicago’s from bolts to rivets. As building skins tall commercial structures in terms of become lighter and more skeletal, the architecturally and constructionally development of the plate glass indus- distinct types,” making it easier to ex- try proves equally critical. 284 INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY Leslie brings other forces into These flaws aside, the book pro- play, as well. With the growing vides a thoughtful and fascinating professionalism of engineering, con- view of an immensely active time in struction itself becomes more sophis- the history of Chicago architecture. ticated, as scheduling and material As Leslie notes, “Chicago in these handling are coordinated to manage decades was a city of laboratory-like ever tighter construction schedules. conditions that enabled architects, Such careful timing represents a far engineers and builders to learn from cry from the early years when an one another’s successes and failures… architect presided over a group of Architects changed their design ap- laborers and craftsmen. proaches both incrementally and This book should be read closely— radically as improvements were it is full of information and dense tested and proven, and they were descriptions. And because it is highly agile in adapting their sense of style detailed, it is fair to note that it could to new materials or techniques. Out have used more editing. There are a of this crucible of deadlines, tight number of places where small but puz- margins and informed gambles on zling errors occur. For instance, in his new techniques a new tradition of discussion of Adler and Sullivan’s early commercial building emerged that, work, the author says that five build- if it was not a ‘School,’ was nonethe- ings illustrate his point, and immedi- less an approach unique to Chicago, ately lists and thoroughly discusses six an approach whose influence spread structures. Charles Atwood’s death is globally as a conceptual and aesthetic noted twice as 1895 and once as 1896. ideal” (p. xxi). The exact date—1896—is important, given the fast-paced building activity CYNTHIA WEESE, FAIA, is a partner in which he was engaged. Also, a at Weese Langley Weese Architects prominent photograph of Adler and Ltd., in Chicago. She was the dean Sullivan’s McVickers Theatre appears, of the School of Architecture at but there is no reference to the build- Washington University in St. Louis ing in the text. from 1993 until 2005..

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