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By Brent Hoffmann, Class of 2005

“I love the University of Chicago Campus Tour because it has so many excellent examples of different styles of architecture,” said Dan Persky, the tour’s co-director.  And we would agree, as most docents can name some of the architects represented on the campus in Hyde Park.  There’s Frank Lloyd Wright, of course, who designed the Robie House.  Also, Henry Ives Cobb, architect of the many Gothic-revival buildings reminiscent of Oxford and Cambridge universities.

But who else?  “Across the street from Robie is the Booth School of Business by Rafael Vinoly,” continued Dan.  “It’s a good neighbor to the Robie.  Booth’s prairie-style cantilevers and overhanging roof really click with tour-takers when they see the context of the two buildings.  As for the UChicago’s libraries, the Gothic-style Harper Library was the work of Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge.  Later, Walter Netsch of SOM designed the brutalist Regenstein Library.  And next to the Regenstein is the new glass-domed Mansueto Library by Murphy/Jahn.  

Playground of Architects

“Rosenwald Hall, with its octagonal tower and gargoyles, was the work of Holabird & Roche,” he said.  “Eero Saarinen designed the modernist law school. If you want to see a Mies van der Rohe building you don’t have to go to the campus of Illinois Tech.  Mies designed the UChicago Crown Family School of Social Work.  Studio Gang did two residential buildings on the north campus, plus an apartment building in Hyde Park.  The most colorful buildings are the Max Palevsky Residential Commons by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.  So, the U of C campus is truly the playground of star architects.”

Urban Planner

In addition to being the tour’s co-director, Dan is an administrator for UChicago’s medical school.  “I love this city because it’s livable and beautiful, and I live 10 minutes from where I grew up in Chicago,” he said.  “I trained as an urban planner and spent many years planning in Chicago and the suburbs.”  Dan earned his undergraduate degree in political science at Oberlin College in Ohio.  He followed up with a J.D. in law and an M.S. in urban planning at the University of Iowa.

In addition to the University of Chicago Campus Tour, Dan, class of 2007, leads the Walk-Through Time and Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age tours.  “Also, the Mid-Century Modern Skyscrapers tour,” added Dan.  “That tour fits well with my background in urban planning.  I can talk about the development of the buildings, infrastructure and landscaping of the 83-acre Illinois Center.”

Bicyclist 

When not squiring tour-takers, Dan enjoys bicycling.  “I love to explore the Chicago suburbs and forest preserves by bike.  My favorite route is along the trails of the Illinois Prairie Path.  The trails wind through many of the prettiest towns in DuPage County. 

“When I travel to other cities, I take photos. There’s so much amazing architecture in small Midwestern towns, such as communities along the Mississippi River and, of course, the architecture of Columbus, Ind.  I enjoy cooking, too.  In 2012 I won a blue ribbon in baking at the Lake Country Fair.”  

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