Welcome to Archigames, wherein nominated local buildings of a particular style are matched up in sudden death pairings to decide the most suitable representative of said style. This week it's Beaux-Arts, and the first of four round one pairings is below. Brush up on the nominees, but always defer to your tastes when casting your vote. Polls close tomorrow at noon. Thanks for playing!
Chicago has quite the stable of Beaux Arts buildings, as do most American cities. The neoclassical style espoused by the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris was a domestic hit from 1880 to 1920, and its echoes are prominent in newer construction (see Lucien Lagrange). We asked readers to parse Chicago's beaux arts portfolio and nominate favorites. Up first: Wrigley Building v. Majestic Building.
Wrigley was built in 1920 by Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White using Seville's cathedral and French Renaissance details for inspiration. The two-part structure has towers at heights of 30 and 21 stories and is clad in glazed terra-cotta, which provides the gleam we're all so fond of. The passageway and street-level ornament are in the midst of restoration. There are few things more splendid than Wrigley by night. The Majestic Building (Bank of America Theater) was designed by Edmund R. Krause and dates to 1906. While it doesn't hold a candle to Wrigley in size or status, the well-composed 18-story building has similar ornament and gleam. Squeezed into a tight lot, its symmetry and eye-catching roof design makes it come off as very New York. OK, make your pick!
·Archigames
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