DANIEL BURNHAM. The Railway Exchange. Steel Frame Aesthetic

The proportions of the Railway Exchange's Piazza/Lightwell/Doughnut (see previous post) are determined by the engineered length of each steel span. And because steel is capable of spanning much longer distances than stone (the Classic building material) the emphasis of this new (new to the turn-of-the-century) steel frame architecture tends to be horizontal rather than vertical.  This was a dramatic visual shift.  The first impression to the early twentieth century eye, would be that this thing couldn't possibly stand up.  

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Steel columns were covered in terra cotta, simulating columns of  a more familiar thickness.  Beams were also fleshed out to similar, more comfortable proportions -- creating a hybrid vision of "new" and "old."

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The White Star Line's Ocean Liner "Celtic" (a contemporary of the Railway Exchange) had sails and twin screws powered with steam turbines.  The turbines propelled the vessel.  But the sails were there "just in case."  One foot  in the past.  One  in the future.  Electric lamps, elevators, ocean liners, automobiles, and steel frame construction --  all "unbelieveable" advances in technology.  Just thirty-five years after the "Fire".  Just 35 years from a  Loop that still had white clapboard houses, picket fences and lawns.

Credit due the Gjenvick Gjonvik Archives --  a great site for Ocean Liner  "buffs."  The Celtic was Westbound on the Atlantic on the night of April 15 1912.  Take a look at the Chicago History Journal for other events of that evening.

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FOR MORE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY begin with

THE CHICAGO LOOP

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