Uploaded October 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Burnham & Root were inspired by several architectural styles when designing The Rookery in 1888. At the time, western explorers were voyaging to the farthest corners of the globe and bringing their discoveries of other cultures and styles back home. The Rookery’s multiple influences – the Byzantine geometry, Venetian coloring, and Islamic arches all seen in this one building’s form – illustrate man’s quest for the unknown at the end of the 1800s. Visit architecture.org/buildings to learn more about Chicago’s most iconic buildings and discover how Chicago’s rich architectural legacy was built.
Burnham & Root were inspired by several architectural styles when designing The Rookery in 1888. At the time, western explorers were voyaging to the farthest corners of the globe and bringing their discoveries of other cultures and styles back home. The Rookery’s multiple influences – the Byzantine geometry, Venetian coloring, and Islamic arches all seen in this one building’s form – illustrate man’s quest for the unknown at the end of the 1800s. Visit architecture.org/buildings to learn more about Chicago’s most iconic buildings and discover how Chicago’s rich architectural legacy was built.
