Architecture and Design

Construction workers apply a grey marble cladding to the Obama Presidential Center in Hyde Park on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Unlike the renderings that showed white or cream color, a grey marble is being installed.

Obama Center gets skin in the game with fancy new granite cladding on its tower

The swirl-patterned granite panels will contribute much to the visual identity — while perhaps adding color and life to a structure that appeared cold and mausoleum-like in renderings.

By Lee Bey

Columnists

As Chase renovates its downtown HQ, can the plaza's modernist McDonald's stay on the menu?

Whatever happens with the upcoming Chase Tower renovation, here’s hoping the little Mickey D’s on the plaza survives.

By Lee Bey

Architecture and Design

City panel recommends landmark status for century-old Hyde Park church

A landmark designation for the Hyde Park Union Church, designed by architect James Gamble Rogers, would protect exterior and interior elements from future demolition.

By Abby Miller

Environment

Chicago's glass buildings kill thousands of migratory birds each year. Advocates want stronger protections

The city of Chicago has worked for years on building design standards that prevent fatal crashes of migratory birds. Making those standards optional for builders is a problem, bird lovers say.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Obit Richard SerraFILE - Famed American sculptor Richard Serra poses in front of "Slat," a 1984 steel sculpture, after its reinstallation in La Defense, west of Paris, Dec. 15, 2008. Serra, known for turning curving walls of rusting steel and other malleable materials into large-scale pieces of outdoor artwork that are now dotted across the world, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at his home in Long Island, N.Y. He was 85. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File) ORG XMIT: NYSS214

Obituaries

American sculptor Richard Serra, the 'poet of iron,' has died at 85

Richard Serra was considered one of his generation’s most preeminent sculptors,known for his large-scale steel structures that he shaped into many forms.

By Associated Press

Architecture and Design

Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Kankakee hits market for nearly $800,000

The Warren Hickox House dates to 1900. It is one of Wright’s first Prairie-style homes.

By Violet Miller

Architecture and Design

Chicago architect selected to design memorial for fallen journalists in Washington

John Ronan’s design concept for the triangular-shaped site at the National Mall will cast visitors in the role of investigative journalist, with themes of light and transparency.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

The Consumers Building, 220 S. State St., (left), and the Century Building (right), 202 S. State St.

Architecture and Design

Century-old State Street skyscrapers hit top ranking on list of most endangered Chicago buildings

Preservation Chicago’s annual list starts with two early 20th century towers on State Street, holdovers from prior lists, and includes neighborhood sites with architectural or historic interest.

By David Roeder

400 Lake Shore Hero, Related Midwest_jpg.jpg

Columnists

It takes two to make a thing go right: Construction starts on a pair of towers at old Chicago Spire site

A pair of tapering, faceted towers designed by architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill that holds the promise of finally delivering the come-up the historic 3-acre parcel has always deserved.a

By Lee Bey

The red sandstone Hyde Park Union Church surrounded by trees.

Editorials

Landmarks panel vote is an important step to help preserve three historic Chicago churches

In a city where historic religious architecture is too often at risk of demolition or out-and-out dilapidation, it’s a good sign to see Landmarks Commission speak up for three neighborhood churches.

By CST Editorial Board

The former Little Flower Church at West 80th Street and South Wood Street in Auburn Gresham.

Chicago

Little Flower Church wilts on South Side as community pushes to preserve it

“This church was a real mainstay and cornerstone of the community for so long,” said Ward Miller with Preservation Chicago. “It’s really wrenching to see the building not only closed but vacant and vandalized.”

By Kaitlin Washburn and Phyllis Cha

Grain storage silos on the Chicago River.

Editorials

All doesn’t have to be lost if Chicago’s historic Damen Silos are demolished

Demolishing the silos in McKinley Park would be a blown chance for the city and state to turn the old industrial site into an exciting new place. But perhaps something can still be done, such as a park along the Chicago River.

By CST Editorial Board

Guaranteed Rate Field sits in the middle of 70-acres of stadium parking.

Columnists

Chicago’s best bet might be keeping White Sox at Guaranteed Rate

The city and state officials should think long and hard before helping reward the team with a new stadium at The 78, particularly when it could come at the expense of the South Side and the Armour Square and Bridgeport neighborhoods.

By Lee Bey

Architectural designer Maya Bird-Murphy poses for a picture.

Entertainment and Culture

Artists from Chicago, Urbana awarded $50,000 grants

The honorees are among 50 recipients of the 2024 United States Artists Fellowship.

By Erica Thompson

The old Will County Courthouse is a large, multiple-story cement building in the Brutalist style.

Other Views

Old Will County Courthouse in Joliet is ‘truly one-of-a-kind.’ What a mistake to demolish it.

Will County taxpayers are losing out on an economic and environmental opportunity, and the same thing is happening too often across Illinois, two leaders of Landmarks Illinois write.

By Bonnie McDonald and Quinn Adamowski

Salesforce Tower Chicago, at left, looks mirror-shiny on a cloudy day.

Columnists

From new skyscrapers to Union Station redesign plans, 2024 will be a busy year for architecture

Bally’s planned casino and the fate of the Century and Consumers buildings are among the five architectural projects worth watching as this new year progresses.

By Lee Bey

David Bahlman rows a boat to the Farnsworth House to check for damage after flooding in 2004.

Obituaries

David Bahlman, former head of Landmarks Illinois who saved Mies van der Rohe’s famed Farnsworth House, dies at 78

Mr. Bahlman also helped save the former Cook County Hospital building from the wrecking ball.

By Mitch Dudek

The Rev. George Lane stands outside Holy Family, the city’s second-oldest church.

Editorials

Remembering the Rev. George Lane and the importance of preserving houses of worship

The author and Jesuit priest bucked his bosses and helped lead the fight to save Holy Family, the city’s second-oldest church. Lane died last month. His work is a much-needed blueprint for saving historic architecture.

By CST Editorial Board

Columnists

Google takes a step forward with new renderings of Thompson Center makeover plan

The renovation would keep the atrium and have a more transparent facade and a new plaza. But we need to see more, architecture critic Lee Bey writes.

By Lee Bey

Sophie and Isabelle Lynch’s living room features stained-glass windows and vintage furniture they’ve collected over the years.

The apartment Chicago is falling in love with

By Katie Anthony