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 last 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!
Rounding out our group of competitors, we've got two other worthy opponents: the Fine Arts Building and the London Guarantee Building. Built in 1885, the exuberant Fine Arts Building overlooks Grant Park and is a member of the Historic Michigan Boulevard District. Architect Solon Spencer Beman designed the ten-story masonry structure for the Studebaker Brothers Carriage Company. Its rough-hewn, multicolored facade is outfitted with bay windows and massive granite columns. Today, the building is dedicated to artists' lofts, galleries, dance and recording studios, and other art-related companies, including the Chicago Youth Symphony.
Flanking the Michigan Avenue Bridge, the London Guarantee rises some 320 feet above the Chicago River. The 22-story limestone tower, which dates to 1923, was built on the former site of Fort Dearborn Blockhouse, one of Chicago's earliest settlements. Designed by Alfred S. Alschuler, its curved facade boasts a bronze relief carving above the main entrance. The trapezoidal-shaped building is capped by a large pavilion, said to be inspired by the Choragic Monument in Athens. In 2001 it was purchased by Crain Communication, Inc., and is now known as the Crain Communication Building. So, who's it gonna be?
·Archigames
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