In just fifteen days in 1894, the 16-story skeleton of the Reliance Building was completed - its exterior covered by wide expanses of windows and white glazed terra cotta that expressed its delicate structure, established it as an architectural gem and laid the groundwork for 20th Century modernism.
Charles Atwood of Burnham and Root designed this building, featuring over 85% glass on its facade to provide natural lighting to residents and patients.
The Reliance Building was one of Chicago's first skyscrapers and is today both a National Historic Landmark and City of Chicago Landmark. Its innovative use of steel and glass revolutionized skyscraper construction, setting an important precedent that continues to shape modern city skylines. A testament to architects and engineers, its presence stands as a monument.
Reliance's vast expanses of glass accentuated by thin bands of white glazed architectural terra-cotta gave the structure a light, weightless aesthetic, distinguishing it from its blockier, earthier contemporaries. Projecting window bays emphasized its verticality while natural daylight flowed freely into its examining rooms--an asset for doctors and dentists who were among its initial tenants.
Although its beautiful facade gradually became covered in grime over time, thanks to preservationist efforts and financial backing by McCaffrey Interests and other investors it was saved from demolition. Rehabilitation then carefully restored it back to its former state so it now boasts classic Chicago architecture on the interior as well.
The Reliance Building stands as one of Chicago's most notable architectural landmarks and National Historic Landmark. Its groundbreaking design and construction revolutionized architecture at its time and continue to inspire architects and builders today.
Reliance Building features an opulent Gothic structure consisting of interconnected, gothic segments resembling medieval cathedrals. Its exterior is covered by white glazed architectural terra cotta manufactured by Chicago's Northwest Terra Cotta Company that boasts a subtle allover crazed finish due to years of exposure to weather elements.
Reliance Building was the first skyscraper to feature large plate glass windows - something which became standard practice throughout the twentieth century. This allowed natural light to fill interior offices while its white terra cotta exterior projected a clean, hygienic image to customers and clients. Today, Reliance is recognized as a historical landmark that houses Hotel Burnham.
As building sizes increased, engineers required more complex structures to support them. The Reliance became a landmark in the development of iron-framed skyscrapers that soon came to dominate city skylines in the 19th century. Its steel framing made for visually lighter structures than masonry buildings and allowed large plate glass windows that became common features among later skyscrapers to be added cladding it with large plate glass windows; its design was pioneered by Burnham & Root's structural engineer E. C. Shankland who utilized Gray columns and stiff connections to prevent forces from bending it laterally.
John Wellborn Root designed the building's first floor and basement; following his death, Charles Atwood of Daniel Burnham's architectural firm completed its design of its upper stories. It was constructed atop concrete caissons sunk as far below grade; German gothic-style elevator cages and grillework were fabricated by Winslow Brothers of Chicago while its cast iron stairway included newel posts, balustrade panels, stringers, and risers to match and harmonize with ornamentation found on both street facades.
Reliance Building was initially constructed as a home for doctors and dentists, as its predominately glass facades were intended to maximize daylight in office spaces--an improvement over its early twentieth-century counterparts with dim wattages that lit examining rooms. Furthermore, its white terra cotta facade projected an image of cleanliness for both its initial tenants as well as patients.
Reliance's glazed terra cotta was believed to be self-cleaning; should dirt or soot accumulate, it was anticipated that rainwater would simply wash it away from its smooth surface.
After the Reliance Building was purchased by the City of Chicago in the late 1990s, McCaffrey Interests worked with architects Gunny Harboe to restore it into an exquisite boutique hotel featuring Atwood Cafe restaurant. Brown granite gives an impression of solidity at the base while large windows connect the lower levels to those above them in this gorgeous renovation project.
