The Reliance Building


We recently took a tour inside one of the oldest, modern skyscrapers in the world.

 
[Reliance Building (1890/1894) Burnham & Root, D.H. Burnham & Co., Charles Atwood, designer, 32 N. State Street,
Chicago, June 29, 2009 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

Originally designed by Daniel Burnham's partner John Root in 1890, but completed by
D.H. Burnham & Co.'s Charles Atwood a few years later, the Reliance Building stands at the forefront of steel-frame, skyscraper construction.

 
[Ground floor of the Reliance Building (1890) John Root, December 2, 2009 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

There were many firsts for this building, not the least of which is that the lower two floors
were built under an existing 5 story building. The older structure was jacked up, and 2 new ground floor levels were constructed underneath. Once the tenant leases expired, the old building was demolished, and in 1894 the upper stories of the Reliance Building were constructed. The steel cage of the top 10 floors was built in an astonishing 15 days. And instead of burying the frame in layers of dark masonry, Atwood paid tribute to the light weight sturcture by covering the steel in white-glazed, terra cotta and filled the bays with as much glass as possible.

 
[Ground floor elevator corridor and mosaic tile pattern /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

The interior is decorated with cast-iron grill work, marble and mosaics which are original
to the building, or exact reproductions of the 1890s design.

 
[Interior corridor and light fixture /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

This building went through some hard times over the years, it was a dump. But the city
stepped up to the plate in 1996 and paid for the renovation and restoration of the exterior while the Kimpton company restored and renovated the interior, converting the Reliance into the Hotel Burnham. The corridors look like they did in 1895, right down to the reproduction light fixtures. But open the doors, and you'll find rooms with all the amenities associated with an upscale boutique hotel.

 
[Upper floor stairwell and detail /Images & Artwork: designslinger]

It's a gem of a building.

Posted by designslinger at 12/10/2009 2:35 AM
Categories: Architecture, Preservation, History, Decorative Arts
Tags: Reliance Building Chicago John Root Charles Atwood D.H. Burnham
 

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  • 12/10/2009 12:10 PM Marsha Estes wrote:
    This is a building I've never noticed. Beautiful. Thank you for the detailed inside tour! Really enjoying your posts.
    1. 12/10/2009 1:39 PM designslinger wrote:
      And thanks for the support. It's greatly appreciated!


  • 1/5/2010 6:35 PM Geno Ciccone wrote:
    Thank you, what a well done article and photographic sampling to relay the essence of this iconic gem.
    1. 1/6/2010 5:23 AM designslinger wrote:
      You're welcome! And thanks for the compliment and the visit.


  • 6/24/2010 11:41 PM Pergolas wrote:
    Very nice! I would like to live in there actually... High rise living with a little old charm! The mosaics are stunning, and I wouldn't mind walking up these stairs every day! Thanks for sharing that with us!
    1. 6/25/2010 3:59 PM designslinger wrote:
      And thanks to you for taking the time to wite. Much appreciated!
  • 8/4/2010 5:01 AM southern textiles king wrote:
    excellent design...Great Architecture..wonderful buildings..every thing Is Too Good...
    1. 8/4/2010 5:56 AM designslinger wrote:
      Wow! Glad it made such an impression.
      1. 8/4/2010 11:30 AM southern textiles king wrote:
        yup its really too good...
  • 8/5/2010 6:23 AM pool pump wrote:
    The woodwork on those stairwells is magnificent! It reminds me of apartment buildings in Europe. A lot of them have mosaics and stairwells like that. Definitely different from our drab, concrete modern buildings!
    1. 8/5/2010 7:38 AM designslinger wrote:
      This is a building where the phrase, "They just don't build 'em like this anymore" comes from. Thanks for the visit and taking the time to comment - much appreciated.
  • 8/7/2010 12:16 AM Commercial Flooring wrote:
    I had no idea there were skyscrapers in those decades. Thanks for the great read and for the photos - that interior is breathtaking. Wow.
    1. 8/7/2010 4:04 AM designslinger wrote:
      And thanks for the visit and the compliment!
  • 1/12/2011 3:23 PM coriag wrote:
    All I can say is awesome, it is so beautiful I love it.
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