Thank you to everyone who participated in our third week of Arch Madness voting! Nearly 160 voters determined the all important Final Four. Your votes this week will reveal our championship round.
Click here to see the updated bracket with the Arch Madness Final Four.
Click here to participate in the next round of voting! Voting for this round will close at 5 pm on Monday, April 27.
Below is a breakdown of the winners of the third round.
Matchup #1: Rookery vs. Robie House
Winner: Rookery
With almost 62% of the vote, Rookery prevails over Robie House. This was a tough battle that may leave many of you wondering: was this the Wright choice?
Why The Rookery? Voters said…
“The ingenuity and bravery of Root wins out over the simple beauty of Wright. In the Rookery we can still honor a bit of Wright’s genius as well! Why bravery? Root’s experimentation with this new fangled skeleton to support a part of his building as well as the guts and talent to create a seemingly unsupported glass “roof” in the center of his building qualifies as extraordinary. And do you not agree it looks like it can exist forever, like a stone mountain in the wilderness of Chicago.”
“Robie House is an incredibly innovative, beautiful, and special building. The Rookery has all that PLUS tons (!) of historical importance. In addition, the Rookery has work by both Burnham & Root AND FLW. The Rookery wins hands down.”
“A one of a kind masterpiece of Root’s brilliance that was foundational to and inspired the transformation of architecture in Chicago and the country. Fortunately there are many examples of Wright’s contribution as brilliant and impactful on architecture as Robie House is.”
Matchup #2: Monadnock vs. Inland Steel
Winner: Monadnock
Just over 58% of the votes went to the Monadnock Building, proving it to be “an oldie but a goodie.”
Why Monadnock? Voters said…
“While Inland is groundbreaking in several respects, Monadnock simply has too much historical importance–and too many great stories–to lose this contest.”
“Two timeless designs, but have to go for the one that’s been timeless longer.”
“Monadnock is the “pivot point” building in architecture that highlights the drastic changes that occurred in architecture, design, engineering, vision, public acceptance of skyscrapers and how economics shape the aforementioned. Inland Steel is nice too, I suppose.”
Matchup #3: Marina City vs. Sullivan Center
Winner: Marina City
This matchup had the slimmest margins of our Round 3 voting. With only 10 more votes than Sullivan Center, Marina City takes her place in the Final Four.
Why Marina City? Voters said…
“Marina City continues to attract the attention of every visitor to the city! It stands out in its uniqueness, creating wonder in the observer of how did it ever come to be? And it continues to serve its original purpose of providing housing, entertainment, essentials all within a 3 acre site. An amazing accomplishment in simple reinforced concrete. Chicago owes allegiance to Goldberg for his most amazing creation that brought people back into the city and still brings them here to oh and ah over his corncob towers!”
“I will always pick Marina City and all its great “firsts”: Bertrand Goldberg’s goal for middle class living in the city, first to embrace the river, city within a city, the union that helped pay for it, the shape-moving- away from steel and glass boxes.”
“Who knew concrete could sing?”
Matchup #4: Carbide and Carbon vs. Reliance
Winner: Reliance
Folks, don’t break out the champagne. With just about 60% of the votes going to Reliance, Carbide and Carbon is ousted from our competition.
Why Reliance? Voters said…
“Reliance broke new ground and remains unique; C&C is one of many worthy representatives of a handsome architectural trend.”
“Years ahead of its time.”
“Time tested. Classic Chicago.”