Orange You Glad to See Me? Hubbard Place Goes Inverted Dreamsicle

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It seems we've reached the time of the year when our only choices are frigid and clear or warm and gloomy.  Today, Saturday in Chicago, we've apparently gone for warm and gloomy.  So I'm thinking we could use a spot of not uncontroversial color to cut through the drab.

The 43-story Hubbard Place, across from the East Bank Club at 360 West Hubbard in Chicago's River North, is the latest residential tower from Solomon Cordwell Buenz, with Daniel Weinbach and Partner's generous landscaping complete with a new sculpture, Lotus, by Chicago sculptor Terrence Karpowicz.  (See the photos of the installation from the indomitable Jyoti Srivastava's Public Art blog, here.)

Channeling David Hovey, SCB's original renderings gave their patented rounded-curved tower

orange accents along the building's edges.  Orange was even a key color in the logo and promotional materials for the building.

Looking at the structure now, most of those accents seem not to have made the final cut, but still survive in the whimsical carrot planters that flank the entrance.

To the south, the garage structure next to the building is pure vanilla.

To the north, however, even as it's dominated by the huge window wall that captures the Sexton lofts across the street, you can start to see a slight seep of orange at the corner.

Round that corner to the east facade, and there's AN EXPLOSION!

I'm not quite sure what to make of this.  It kind of screams 1960's supermarket.  Or a bar chart of a mental breakdown.  It's like when you were a kid and you had a Lego set, and you were trying to build a white building but you ran out of bricks, so you had to make do with leftover colors that usually stayed in the box.  And if you think I'm being mean, check out what some of the Sexton residents had to say.

A city's character is  made of many things.  Some good.  Some bad.  Some so inscrutably bad they become their own kind of landmark, a poke in the eye that won't be ignored.  The colorstrips of the Hubbard Place garage are that kind of landmark.  They bring a whole new outbreak of crazy-quilt stitchery to Chicago's urban fabric. 

Chicago Historic Schools: A Great new Website documents over a century of vital buildings and their architects

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I was out in Humboldt Park over the weekend taking pictures of John Ronan's new addition to Erie Elementary Charter School - which I hope to write about tomorrow, in time for the school's Thursday Open Doors Benefit and Open House and Reception -  when, just in the next block, I encountered the splendid 1884-1893 Alexander von Humboldt Elementary . . .

Renovated as recently as 2008, the structure now stands empty, one of the 54 schools closed this year by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  Searching on Google for more information, I came across this informative history of von Humboldt on Chicago Historic Schools, a site I had never encountered before.

And here's why:  it's brand new, and it's terrific.  A collaboration between Frances O'Cherony Archer, Chicago Park District historian Julia Bachrach, Elizabeth A. Patterson, architect Bill Latoza, supplying many historical images, and the Art Institute's James Iska and Brooke Collins adding contemporary photographs.

A group of passionate historians and architects produced this website; they are not affiliated with Chicago Public Schools.

The schools they document represent some of the most important architecture in the city.  Few may make the standard architectural guidebooks, but they are both very fine buildings in their own right, and the kind of structural anchors that define the character of their respective neighborhoods.  They are time capsules of Chicago's architectural and social history, and Chicago Historic Schools fills out their stories to a depth not previously available.

There's also profiles of  22 school district architects, from the somewhat well known Dwight Perkins, a member of the Steinway Hall gang whose innovative work including such schools as Graeme Stewart, Trumbell and Schurz.  The facade of his former office across the Water Tower survives today as an upscale fashion boutique.  

Far more rare are profiles of 22 school district architects from Louis Sullivan's mentor, John H. Edelmann, to August Bauer, Frederick Baumann, Paul Gerhardt and more. If it consisted of nothing more than these architectural biographies, Chicago Historic Schools would be an invaluable website.

There are currently 24 structures on Chicago Historic Schools, with more to be added in the future.  There are also pages on three lost buildings.   Two of the existing schools on the site - von Humboldt and Perkins's Trumbull - now stand empty as part of this year's great wave of closings.  The advocacy of the �passionate� group producing Chicago Historic Schools  has not only produced a great addition to the record of Chicago's architectural heritage, but their advocacy stands to increase awareness of the irreplaceable value of vital, historic structures that are increasingly being treated as  disposable.

� James Iska

We Have a Winner! Place your bets: Willis Tallest Building Decision to be handed down Tuesday morning

Update, Tuesday morning:  The CTBUH has just ruled the One World Trade gains the title of North America's tallest.   In response to a question from the Trib's Blair Kamin, the CTBUH denied they responded to political pressure.  "Ultimately, these were 25 rational people who made a non-emotional decision."  Five hour meeting, heated debate, one abstention.  Blair's report.  And the official press release.

Ladies and gentleman! 

For the title, Tallest Building in North America . . . 

In this corner, at 1,353 feet, weighing in at 445,000,000 pounds, Willis Sears TOWER!!!!

photograph: Joe Mabel, Wikipedia

And in this corner,  at 1776 feet, minus hundreds of feet of TV antenna (or maybe not), One World Trade CENTER!!!!! 

Will the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's "height committee" (there's a marker outside the meeting room:  You Must be THIS Tall to Serve") declare that the antenna a "spire" and include it in measuring the building's height, thereby clinching the title for New York, or will reject the antenna as a gaming-the-system poseur, leaving the Willis winner and still champion?

I know, the suspense is killing you.  But you only have to wait until tomorrow.

On Tuesday, November 12, concurrent press conferences - 10:00 a.m. in Chicago; 11:00 a.m. in New York - CTBUH will announce its final decision.  I'm hoping we'll see a Le-Sacre-like riot breaking out in the losing city.  If the decision goes against Chicago, look for the Willis's 300-foot-high antennas to be quickly enwrapped in styrofoam and declared structural for a return match.

And whatever side you're on - please, please, please:  Wager wisely.

Also Read:

Freedom Tower, from Tragedy to Farce

The Realtors Dream of a New Skyscraper, as Billy Goat's, Benito Jaurez and his plaza Contemplate their Future

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The Trib's Mary Ellen Podmolik reported late Monday that the National Association of Realtors has plans to demolish their building at 430 North Michigan and trade up its 218,000 square feet for a 1 to 2 million square-foot skyscraper, further sealing the canyonization of Michigan Avenue.

The 11-story 430 North Michigan was designed by architect Fred H. Prather and opened in 1963 as the home to Apollo Savings and Loan, which collapsed in 1968.   The building gained national  notoriety as the home to fictional therapist Bob Newhart, immortalized in the sitcom's opening.

The demolition of 430 North Michigan will take a lot of Chicago history with it.  Not the building itself.  It was never landmark quality, and while it was originally an expression of mid-century modernism,  in 2008 it got a glitzy refacing and sprouted wings at the roof.  In 2011, however, the Wrigley Company sold the Realtors the building behind 430 that beginning in 1934 was Riccardo's, the city's premier bar for newspaper folk, complete with murals by Ivan Albright.  By the 1970's, Riccardo's began a long descent, and the building survives today as a restaurant named after its address, 437 Rush.

But then there's the Billy Goat Tavern, another newsman's hangout frequented by the likes of Studs Terkel and Mike Royko.  With an entrance just west of lower Michigan Avenue, it's called the basement of 430 home for half a century, and will also be be evicted, if only temporarily.

Of far more concern is the status of the Plaza of the Americas, which sits on a raised viaduct that stretches back from Michigan Avenue between the Realtors Building to the north and the Wrigley Building Annex to the south.

In 2010, the depressingly derelict plaza underwent a renovation.  The good news was the $750,000 cost was picked up by the realtors.  The bad news, as the Trib's Blair Kamin noted, was that it was a hack job, done without the participation of an architect or landscape architect.  Unlike the original design of the plaza, there are no benches or seating inviting pedestrians to linger.  The clear message is �look, but keep moving.�

The larger question is why the National Association of Realtors picked up the tab.  In negotiations with 42nd ward alderman Brendan Reilly, it came to light that the the Association was �legally responsible for maintenance of the Plaza.� Does this mean they own it?  And if they do own it, will it be usurped in whole or in part by the new building?  Podmolik's report only says that the new development will include �building and plaza space.�

Right now, there's a shortage of details.  The entire announcement is slightly vaporous.  No architect has been named, no groundbreaking date set. Podmolik reported that the Association's spokesman would only say �many details need to be worked out and that no decisions are final.�   The Realtors could be trolling for financing that may never come.

If it does, however, we need to make sure that the Plaza of the Americas is not only not lost or abridged, but that Julian Martinez's sculpture of Benito Jaurez looks down on a plaza that is finally worthy both of Mexico's first President and of the site's pivotal location.

Wednesday: Asthma and Housing; Today: Carlo Caldini - more for November

We're still adding content to the November Calendar of Chicago Architectural Events (and soliciting feedback from our readers whether it's worth all the work to keep the calendar going into 2014.)

Wednesday morning at University Center, the Chicago Asthma Consortium is sponsoring a half-day seminar on the rarely discussed topic of Asthma and Housing, taking design beyond aesthetics to the home environment and its effects on asthma sufferers.  It includes lectures, a panel and roundtable discussion, with participants including Catherine Baker of Landon Bone Baker, Ginger Chew of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, caregiver Sophia Ragland, among many others.

Tonight, Tuesday, at the Graham Foundation, Florence-based architect Carlo Caldini, will discuss his 1970's co-founding of Gruppo 9999, and his contributions to the 1972 MOMA exhibition Italy: The New Domestic Landscape, which is the focus of the Graham's current exhibition, Environments and Counter Environments.  Then on Thursday, as the future of the Egyptian-styled former Nick's Uptown is debated before the Landmarks Commission, preservationist and historian Heather Plaza-Manning will discuss Romancing the Sphinx: American Egyptian Revival Architecture at the Uptown Public Library.

These are just a few of the over dozen great item happening just this week to check out on the November Calendar of Chicago Architectural Events.

Lambert and Arets, Plensa and Kreloff, Enquist, Bannos, Achilles, Sarah Morris and More - it's the November Calendar! (endangered species?)

You may have noticed, the November Calendar of Chicago Architectural Events was a bit late this month.  Like eight days late.   Can you imagine how many people were writing me asking where it was?

Would you believe . . . one?

I'm coming to the conclusion that the monthly calendar is an idea whose time has gone.  Readership is not large.  Throughout all the days of  a given month, there are fewer cumulative pageviews for the calendar than for a single average post.  It often seems the only people reading the calendar are the those who are on it.  Since I'm now back to a regular 9 to 5 job, my side hours are limited, and I'm thinking they might be better spent on other projects.  So, as with the printed version of The Onion but a whole less funnier, December may see the final version of the monthly architectural calendar.   If you have any thoughts on the matter, pass 'em on

On a cheerier note, as always, there's no small number of great events still to come in November.  This Thursday, Phyllis Lambert will be in conversation with Wiel Arets at Crown Hall and signing copies of her book, Building Seagram.  Also this week, Carlo Caldini is at the Graham on Tuesday, and Jon B. DeVries and D. Bradford Hunt will discuss their new book, Planning Chicago: How Did We Get Here? and why planners always seem to incorporate an initial somewhere in their name, noontime at AIA Chicago on Wednesday, the same afternoon the Chicago Architecture Foundation has their annual Patron of the Year luncheon at the Palmer House, and SOM's Phil Enquist  discusses the Great Cities, Great Lakes, Great Basin initiative lunchtime at CAF, where it's the subject of a just-opened exhibition of the same name..  DeVries and Hunt will also be putting in a appearance at Open Books on Institute Place Monday the 18th.

More? How about Pamela Bannos talking about 1836 through the Chicago Fire at the MCA on Saturday the 16th, where filmmaker Sarah Morris has a preview screening and talk on Tuesday, the 19th, the same day David Wilts of Arup discusses The Smarter Building:  What It is - and Why Bother noontime at AIA/Chicago, and Rolf Achilles talks about his book, The Chicago School of Architecture- Building the Modern City, 1880-1910, at the Glessner House Museum..  The Chicago Midwest Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art gives out its First Annual Acanthus Awards at the Elks National Memorial, also on Saturday the 16th.

On Wednesday the 20th Jaume Plensa is in conversation with Reed

Kroloff at MCA, and on Thursday the 21st, Jean Guarino discusses Construction, Demolition and the Remaking of LaSalle Street for Friends of Downtown at the Cultural Center, and designer Lloyd Natof is at Unity Temple in Oak Park.

Catch it while you can.  Check out all the great items on the November Calendar of Chicago Architectural Events.

Happy Ending for Little Egypt?

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[Update, December 9th, 2013: On Thursday, December 5th, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted unanimously to confer preliminary landmark status on Nick's Uptown.]

Nick's Uptown, the Egyptian-styled Hupmobile showroom that was previously the Cairo Supper Club, is on this Thursday's agenda of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for Preliminary Landmark Designation.  The bar recently closed and the building acquired by Thorek Hospital, which has a record of demolishing and landbanking. No designation report posted yet, although there is one - reflecting the commission staff's usual excellent work - on the 1890 former James Mulligan School on Sheffield, currently undergoing rehab as housing after a long period standing empty.

photograph: Commission on Chicago Landmarks

Read our original story, Little Egypt on Sheridan Road, here.