860–880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments facts for kids
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Buildings at 860–880 Lake Shore Drive
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860–880 Lake Shore Drive
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 Location in Central Chicago
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 860–880 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1949 |
| Architect | Ludwig Mies van der Rohe |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001344 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1980 |
The 860–880 Lake Shore Drive buildings are two tall apartment towers made of glass and steel. They are located on N. Lake Shore Drive in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. These twin towers stand right next to Lake Michigan.
Construction of these buildings began in 1949 and finished in 1951. They were designed by a famous architect named Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He called them the "Glass House" apartments because of their unique look. The buildings are 26 floors high, reaching about 254 feet (82 meters) into the sky.
These towers were very important for modern architecture. Their design, with lots of glass and steel, became a model for many skyscrapers around the world. This style is known as the International Style.
When they were first built, not everyone liked the design. Some lenders thought the buildings looked too unusual to give money for their construction. Mies van der Rohe believed in "less is more". This means he used very simple designs with no extra decorations. He called his style "skin and bones" architecture.
A key part of their design is the glass and steel "curtain wall". This is a non-structural outer covering that keeps the weather out. Residents in these buildings even had to use the same neutral gray curtains to keep the outside look uniform!
An important person involved in the project was Georgia Louise Harris Brown. She was the structural engineer. She was also the first African American woman to get an architecture degree from the University of Kansas. She was the second African American woman to get an architecture license in the United States.
Contents
Restoring the Towers: Renovations
Over time, the buildings needed some updates. Krueck and Sexton Architects from Chicago were hired to renovate these historic towers. They worked with other experts like Harboe Architects and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc..
Their main goal was to fix earlier renovations that had changed the buildings too much. The team wanted to bring back the original look. They replaced old, unclear glass with clear, translucent glass. They also fixed the travertine stone plaza that connects the two towers. They used new stones that matched the original design more closely.
Awards and Recognition
These buildings have received many honors over the years.
- The towers were finished in 1951. They were featured in a 1957 article in Life Magazine, highlighting Mies van der Rohe's work.
- In 1996, they became the first buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe to be named a Chicago Landmark.
- They have been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. This means they are important historical places in the United States.
- In June 2005, the United States Postal Service honored the towers. They were included in a special stamp collection called "Masterworks of Modern Architecture." They were listed as one of "12 outstanding examples of modern buildings."
- In 2018, for the Illinois Bicentennial (200th birthday), the buildings were chosen as one of the "Illinois 200 Great Places." This award came from the American Institute of Architects Illinois.
Quick Facts and Figures
- Both towers have 26 stories.
- The buildings are 46 feet apart from each other.
- Their steel frames are built on a 21-foot grid, making their design very uniform.
- Originally, 860 Lake Shore Drive had 90 apartments with three bedrooms. 880 Lake Shore Drive had 158 apartments with one bedroom. Many people have combined units to make larger living spaces.
Local Schools
Children living in these buildings attend Chicago Public Schools. They are zoned for Ogden School and Wells Community Academy High School.
See also
In Spanish: Apartamentos Lake Shore Drive para niños
