A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our first week of Arch Madness voting! We had an astounding 183 responses to our poll.
Click here to see the updated bracket with the winners.
Click here to participate in the next round of voting! Voting for this round will close at 5 pm on Monday, April 13.
Below is a breakdown of the winners of the first round.
Matchup #1: 860-880 Lake Shore Drive vs. Crown Hall
Winner: Crown Hall
With nearly 80% of the vote, this was a clear favorite!
Why Crown Hall? Voters said…
“Crown Hall best reflects the abstract democratic principles embodied within universal space.”
“Crown Hall – so clearly and simply represents Mies’ architectural vocabulary of space, structure and skin.”
Matchup #2: Auditorium Building vs. Rookery Building
Winner: Rookery
The Rookery took home over 73% of the votes in this contest.
Why Rookery? Voters said…
“I love the contrast between the exterior and the interior light well of the Rookery–and its connection to the Columbian Exposition.”
“Root and Wright — need more? Rich color and ornamentation plus light court.”
Matchup #3: The Chicago Bungalow vs. Robie House
Winner: Robie House
Robie House took home nearly 65% of the vote.
Why Robie? Voters said…
“BEST EXAMPLE OF FLW PRAIRIE STYLE IN CHICAGO”
“Robie House hands down. I love Chicago bungalows, but Robie is such a special place. Love those horizontal lines…”
Matchup #4: Museum of Science and Industry vs. Chicago Athletic Association
Winner: Chicago Athletic Association
CAA came out on top in this matchup with almost 58% of votes.
Why CAA? Voters said…
“Stunning Venetian Gothic on the exterior and the amazing work of countless artisans in the interior that has stood the test of time. Adaptive reuse at its finest and a building that thrives today as a result.”
“Almost impossible to choose. MSI is amazing in its history. Among its tight Chicago history connections are, of course, the WCE of 1893, Atwood, the Field Museum, and Julius Rosenwald. And, on top of that, I love visiting MSI as a museum. The CAA Hotel, because of its phenomenal renovation/restoration/recreation however, is at times like walking back in time – right back to 1893. It wins by a hair.”
Matchup #5: Monadnock Building vs. Chicago Board of Trade
Winner: Monadnock Building
Monadnock won this round with a slim margin of just 19 votes (99 to 80)!
Why Monadnock? Voters said…
“It represents Chicago’s architect’s’ experiment with structure and design for a new type of building in a new city in a new country. And it exemplifies John Root.”
“The CBOT is a great art deco building. But the Monadnock has my heart. All that history. All that weight. The beautiful curves executed by those bricklayers. The efficient use of space. All that is tough to beat.”
Matchup #6: Graceland Cemetery vs. Millennium Park
Winner: Millennium Park
With over 2/3 of votes going to Millennium Park, new beat out old in this non-building matchup.
Why Millennium Park? Voters said…
“Millennium Park is just so bold and urban, yet sized for human use.”
“Two of my favorites against each other – not fair! Have to go with the Park which has transformed the city Center in every way possible- economically, culturally, architecturally and recreationally.”
Matchup #7: 875 N. Michigan vs. Willis Tower
Winner: 875 N. Michigan
This matchup of two of Chicago’s most iconic buildings was a nailbiter, but 875 N. Michigan came out on top with 98 votes to Willis’ 78.
Why 875 N. Michigan? Voters said…
“The first and still the best, the old John Hancock still defines the perfection of mid-century modernism.”
“In terms of the aesthetics of building design, for me it’s a tie. They are both stunning buildings in their own way. If I am forced to choose, I must pick the 875 N. Michigan (pka the Hancock). Unlike Willis (pka Sears Tower), the Hancock was planned as and still functions as a mixed use building. I like the mixed use concept. Its a concept that continues to work for super tall buildings today.”
Matchup #8: Unity Temple vs. Inland Steel Building
Winner: Inland Steel Building
With over 60% of the vote, Inland Steel takes this round.
Why Inland Steel? Voters said…
“Inland Steel wins this contest. It is among, I believe, the most unappreciated buildings by most people in Chicago. Stunning on the outside. Stunning on the inside – not just in the lobby, but also on the 2nd floor (open one year during OHC). It’s an icon.”
“Another almost impossible choice, but the Inland Steel building is one of my favorite buildings in Chicago or anywhere. It’s a masterpiece, with it’s beautiful proportion and inspired use of stainless steel and wonderful green tinted glass. Unity Temple is, of course, magnificent.”
Matchup #9: Aqua vs. Marina City
Winner: Marina City
With almost 58% of the vote, the iconic Marina City defeated relative newcomer Aqua.
Why Marina City? Voters said…
“I chose Marina City because it was ahead of its time and is still an iconic building that is recognized as a symbol of Chicago all over the world.”
“Marina City was a critical early anchor to reinvigorating the Loop as a desirable location in which to live and work.”
Matchup #10: Harold Washington Library vs. Tribune Tower
Winner: Tribune Tower
Nearly 2/3 of the votes went to Tribune Tower, knocking out Harold Washington Library.
Why Tribune Tower? Voters said…
“Tribune Tower for its unity of design, better integrated than the isolated features of HWLC that seem tacked on arbitrarily.”
“Gothic is great!”
*Editor’s note: Though HWLC lost, most of the comments were in favor of this building! I think the sentiment is best summed up by this one: “The underdog telling Chicago’s architectural history for the namesake of an awesome Mayor.”*
Matchup #11: First Church of Deliverance vs. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church
Winner: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church
Holy Trinity bested First Church of Deliverance with over 71% of the vote.
Why Holy Trinity? Voters said…
“I have visited Holy Trinity. I should have visited many years before I did. It is a jewel. It may be located in Chicago, but the spirit of the building, both inside and out, is back in the countryside of pre-revolutionary Russia. That is Sullivan’s genius.”
“Louis Sullivan’s only surviving church show’s how much thought and research he did when designing a simple yet ornate Orthodox sanctuary based on a small, rural church as his inspiration.”
Matchup #12: Sullivan Center vs. Merchandise Mart
Winner: Sullivan Center
With over 75% of the vote, Sullivan Center was a crowd favorite!
Why Sullivan Center? Voters said…
“She is the Queen of State Street. Long live the Queen!”
“The Merchandise Mart is an amazing building. It is huge. It is great Art Deco. But, Sullivan Center is my pick here. That main entrance with all those doors and the ironwork! OMG! And all those Chicago style windows. The history. The blending of all the additions. The way the building illustrates how architecture helped Chicago gain its retail prominence. Love this building. Love that it now functions as a popular Target location.”
Matchup #13: Carbide and Carbon Building vs. Marquette Building
Winner: Carbide and Carbon Building
With over 55% of the vote, Carbide and Carbon wins the champagne toast in this round.
Why Carbide and Carbon? Voters said…
“Love the tower topped with gold, art deco inside”
“Pass the bubbly.”
Matchup #14: Water Tower vs. Aon Center
Winner: Water Tower
Water Tower won out with nearly 60% of the vote.
Why Water Tower? Voters said…
“Emblematic of classic early Chicago and a survivor of the Chicago Fire”
“THE FIRST CHICAGO ARCHITECTURAL ICON”
Matchup #15: Railway Exchange Building vs. Reliance Building
Winner: Reliance
Though the Railway Exchange holds a place in our hearts as the former home of CAF, Reliance won in a landslide. 131 votes went to Reliance while Railway Exchange Building picked up 48.
Why Reliance? Voters said…
“Reliance Building set the stage for all skyscrapers to follow – hard to compete with the original.”
“The Reliance still looks revolutionary 130 years later. A masterpiece in terra cotta and glass. Major kudos to the city for enabling its restoration.”
Matchup #16: Art Institute of Chicago vs. Wrigley Building
Winner: Wrigley Building
The Wrigley Building chewed the competition with over 65% of votes.
Why Wrigley? Voters said…
“GAP&W’s French and Spanish renaissance ornamentation coupled with the upward looking art deco structure is a daring, in your face icon.”
“Frank Sinatra never sang about the Art Institute.”
Where’s the link to Week #2?
At the top of the article, you can click on where it says, “Click here to see the updated bracket with the winners” to see the new bracket, or to vote for Week 2, click on where it says, “Click here to participate in the next round of voting!”
While Carbon & Carbide is really lovely, Marquette is a seminal example of the CHICAGO Commercial Style with its tripartite organization, CHICAGO Windows and bad reliefs of Pete Marquette over the entry. So it wins for me BEFORE you go inside.
Once inside with the magnificent Tiffany mosaics, the building get at least to the semi final.
Supposed to be “bas” relief of “Pere” Marquette. Autocorrect does not handle French very well.