SPECIAL RECOGNITION
DISTINGUISHED BUILDING
Chicago, Illinois
| Architect: | McClier Corp. |
| Client/Owner: | City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development |
| Developer: | Baldwin Development Co. |
| General Contractor: | UBM Inc. |
| Consultants: | Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. (Terra Cotta and Windows), Klein and Hoffman Inc. (Structural Engineer) |
| Photographer: | Leslie Schwartz, Gunny Harboe, AIA and Ian Chin |
Designed by Charles B. Atwood of D.H. Burnham and Co. and completed in 1895, the Reliance Building is no less than one of the great icons of American architecture. It is proof that the early skyscraper style known as the Chicago School was not just a precursor of modern architecture, but a unique movement in its own right. This building is one of the finest high-rise buildings of any time, and its facades masterfully blend the expression of its structural system with a highly decorated surface.
The purpose of the project was to restore the exterior of the Reliance Building to its period of significance (circa 1895-1915). The main components of the restoration included the terra cotta, windows, cornice and bay bottoms. Over 2000 pieces of terra cotta were replaced and another 1000 pieces were removed and reinstalled. Deterioration of the windows required that both the wood double hung windows and the large fixed plate glass windows be replaced with new insulated glass units that meet current codes. The original cornice was removed in the late 1940s and has been replicated in cast aluminum. The bay bottoms were reconstructed using the one remaining bay as a model. The restoration and rehabilitation of the Reliance Building's interior is to occur at a future date as a separate project.
"The preservation quality of the Reliance Building is superb." -Jury Comment
