Daniel Burnham, Chicago Architect. (1864-1912) Director of Works for the
Columbian Exposition of 1893, Architect of the Chicago Masonic Temple, which
was, in 1891, at 22 stories, the tallest skyscraper in the world.
The Masonic Temple Height: 302 feet (92
meters) to roof. Original owners: Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Illinois. Constructed: 1891-1892. Arguably the birthplace of the skyscraper,
Chicago has held the title of tallest building twice in skyscraper history. In
1892, the Masonic Temple rose twenty-two stories at the corner of Randolph and
State Streets. With its high pitched gables and flat-topped roof leveling off
at 302 feet, the structure was shorter than New York's World Building with its
lantern, but boasted the highest occupied floor. Designed by Burnham and
Root, Chicago's most prominent commercial architects, it featured a central
court ringed by nine floors of shops with offices above and meeting rooms for
the Masons at the very top.
The Masonic Temple employed a rigid steel frame
with wrought iron wind-bracing placed diagonally between the structural
members above the 10th floor. As light was a prime concern, large windows were
installed from top to bottom, clearly illustrating the practicality of a
steel-framed building. It was described as "perhaps the frankest admission of
a structural and economic necessity ever expressed in architectural form."
Due to height regulations enacted in 1892, The
Masonic Temple remained Chicago's tallest building until the 1920's when the
city's new zoning laws permitted towers. In 1939, The Masonic Temple was
demolished, in part due to its poor internal services, but also due to the
construction of the new State Street subway, which would have necessitated
expensive foundation retrofitting. In 1939, its offices and stores considered
old fashioned, The Masonic Temple was demolished.
"Fronts 170 feet on State and 114 feet on Randolph Street, at the northeast
corner. This building occupies the place of honor in our chapter on "Notable
High Building," and is there fully described. Its 21 stories carry it to a
height of 302 feet. There are 10 stores, 543 offices, many lodge-rooms, and
a public observatory. The exterior walls are heavy, of granite and yellow
pressed brick. The rotunda on the main floor is open to the skylight at the
top, and is nearly surrounded by 14 passenger and 2 freight elevators. In
the basement and under the street are 2 Corliss engines, each of 500
horse-power; 8 steel boilers, 6 dynamos, and 8 large pumps. The electric
apparatus weighs 60 tons, and includes 53 miles of wire. It is not possible
to classify the tenants of a building which is a city in itself; and again,
the edifice has not yet developed it characteristics. The upper floors are
fitted for Masonic lodges, chapters, asylums, and councils. The first ten
floors are expected to accommodate merchants. Professional men already favor
the office floors. The observatory offers a very high point of view, to be
obtained for a small fee and without climbing. This wonderful edifice was
erected in 1890-92, at a cost of $3,500,000."
