The Rookery - Frank Lloyd Wright Lobby

Stop on Historic Chicago Loop Walking Tour, a free self-guided tour.

Head south on LaSalle Street to The Rookery at 209 South LaSalle, a masterpiece by architects Daniel Burnham and John Wellborn Root completed in 1888. The building's name comes from the temporary city hall that previously occupied the site, which housed so many pigeons it was called the rookery. This 11-story structure represents the transition from load-bearing masonry to steel-frame construction. The exterior combines Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles with red granite, brick, and terra cotta. The building's most spectacular feature is the light-filled interior court with its glass and iron atrium. In 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the lobby, adding his signature geometric patterns, marble surfaces, and Persian-style ornamentation in cream and gold. Wright's renovation demonstrates Prairie School aesthetics applied to Victorian architecture. The Rookery pioneered fireproofing techniques after the Great Fire made safety paramount. The building incorporated electric lighting and advanced plumbing, making it state-of-the-art for its era. The lobby underwent careful restoration in 1992, returning Wright's design to its original splendor. This building represents the golden age of Chicago architecture when the city led the world in building innovation.