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For over a century now Chicago has been one of the leading cities in the world for architectural feats. Serving as both classroom and canvas, the city has benefited from the works of Louis Henry Sullivan, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, and many others. It is no surprise then that there are many books and articles written on Chicago's architecture. The latest contribution is the second edition of History of the Development of Building Construction in Chicago. The original was written by Frank A. Randall in 1949. His son, John, has brought the work forward into the 1990s. What sets this book apart from most others is the authors' approach. Both Frank and John Randall pursue their research not as historians - or even architects for that matter — but as engineers. Unlike the AIA Guide to Chicago, History of the Development of Building Construction in Chicago does not limit its focus to historic buildings. Both Randalls have done an exhaustive job of researching contemporary trade journals to document the structures that make, and have made, the downtown commercial center and outlying areas of Chicago. Frank A. Randall was involved with many groups in Chicago, serving as building commissioner for the Century of Progress World's Fair and as consultant to the Department of Subways and Superhighways. John D. Randalls credentials as an initial advisor for what would become the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and his association with preservation advocate and photographer Richard Nickel makes him more than qualified to update his father's work. The book is divided into three parts. The first section of the book gives a brief history of Chicago. The primary focus is on the built environment. The authors cover such issues as the Great Chicago Fire's role in creating a need for rapid development of construction, and the need to raise the surface grade in the city due to poor soil and health reasons. This section continues with succinct accounts of the evolution of construction design -balloon frame, cast iron facades, fire proofing, skeletal frame, caissons, etc. The second part introduces the reader to many people who played an important role in the physical development of Chicago. The list of architects with small biographies reads as a "Who's Who" of some of the city's most prominent architects and firms. William LeBaron Jenney, Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, and Chicago's first architect, John M. Van Osdel, are just a few of the people mentioned. Not surprisingly, several engineers are included in this list. Unfortunately in most cases, the brief biographies provide only information about the person's education and which firms he started or worked for. Amazingly, all the information in the first two sections of this book is compacted into only forty-one pages. Whereas whole books have been written on just parts of the above-mentioned material, the authors cannot be entirely faulted for their brevity. The purpose of this book is to give reference to the many buildings in the downtown area. This they cover admirably in the third section with over 1500 entries. The heart of the book is section three. Here the authors have put together a chronological listing of buildings. This list is broken down into six periods: pre-Fire, post-Fire reconstruction, Columbian ILLINOIS HERITAGE 16 Exposition, to World War I, to World War II, and to present. Each listing shows that the authors have done extensive primary research in order to be as thorough and concise as possible. Information on buildings, when available, includes: names used, construction dates, remodeling dates, dates of demolition, preservation listing (National Register, Chicago Landmark, etc.), cost, architect, and engineer. In addition, buildings that proceeded the original are listed. Citations to primary sources are included for those who want more information. Block by block, the reader is led through the central business district and immediate outlying areas.
A welcome addition to the second edition is the use of several birds-eye views of downtown and the Near North side of Chicago. These views were taken from Rand McNally's Views of Chicago. These sketches aid in putting a physical perspective on the buildings listed. Also, there are several maps identifying the visual locations of many buildings within the geographical context of the areas under study. However, the closer you get to modern times, the less visual aids there are. Of course, one could always roam the streets of downtown Chicago to view the more modern structures. The book also contains several appendices to give the reader even more information. The first appendix walks through the current streets of downtown Chicago, listing buildings in order as if one was on a walking tour. The second appendix lists architects and engineers. They are listed by the firm they worked for and what buildings they worked on. The third appendix charts the growth of building construction in terms of volume and dollar amount. The next appendix describes the obstacles involved with building sub-basements in Chicago. The fifth appendix indexes several publications regarding the foundations of buildings mentioned in this book. Other appendices go on to include information about buildings in photographs, chronology of tallest buildings, buildings missed in the original text, and suggested readings and bibliography. Finally, the authors provide an example of the survey forms used to identify the buildings for future use. Needless to say, this is not a book to be devoured from cover to cover. In the 487 pages of text, pictures, maps, and charts there is more information than anyone can really digest with a sit down read. However, the spine of this book should get plenty of wear and tear from its use as a primary reference for anyone interested in the architectural history of Chicago's business district. Copies of History of the Development of Building Construction in Chicago ( Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999) are available at most book stores in Illinois or from the University of Illinois Press. The book is bound in cloth and sells for $44.95.
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