History
Considered the oldest standing high-rise building in Chicago, the Rookery, designed in 1888 by architects Daniel H. Burnham and John Wellborn Root, was the tallest building in the world at its inception.
In 1905, it was redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright, resulting in a beautiful two-story, sky-lit lobby. Meticulously renovated and maintained, the Rookery is Chicago’s oldest standing high-rise, centrally located in the financial district of the downtown Loop. Many elements of the building are original, including its doorknobs, parts of its hand-laid mosaic flooring, and its spectacular Oriel Staircase.
The Rookery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and was designated an official Chicago Landmark in 1972. Following a final and extensive restoration in 1992, the building stands as it did in 1905, solidifying its place in Chicago’s rich history of architecture and innovation.
For all the days along the way