Did you know the Auditorium Building was once the tallest in Chicago? This granite and limestone giant stands as a testament to architectural innovation. It is a multi-use complex. It houses offices, a hotel, and a theater.
Let’s delve into the story of the Auditorium Building. Completed in 1889 by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, it was a marvel. It served multiple functions under one roof. Sullivan even had his office here for twenty years. The Auditorium Building quickly became Chicago’s cultural hub. The Auditorium Theater became the first home of the Chicago Civic Opera and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Ferdinand Peck, a Chicago businessman, wanted to rival New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. He wanted to make high culture accessible to Chicago’s working class. Peck gathered tycoons like Marshall Field and George Pullman to support his vision. Adler and Sullivan were hired to design this ambitious project. A young Frank Lloyd Wright contributed to the interior design.
The Auditorium Building’s design was groundbreaking. Its raft foundation was innovative. Soft blue clay lay over 100 feet deep beneath the building. Conventional foundations were impossible. Adler and engineer Paul Mueller designed a floating mat. It consisted of crisscrossed railroad ties and steel rails embedded in concrete. This distributed the building’s weight over a large area.
The original plan included lightweight terra-cotta for the exterior. This was changed to stone during construction. The weight of the outer walls caused a deflection over time. Some parts settled as much as 29 inches. You can see this slope in the theater lobby’s mosaic floor.
Inside, the Auditorium Theater could seat 4,300 people. It could expand to 7,000 or contract to 3,000 as needed. Peck ensured all seats had good views and acoustics. Even box seats did not receive prime locations. The building also included a 400-room hotel and 136 offices. These were intended to support the opera.
President Grover Cleveland laid the cornerstone in 1887. In 1888, the Republican National Convention nominated Benjamin Harrison here. President Benjamin Harrison dedicated the building in 1889. Opera star Adelina Patti sang “Home Sweet Home”.
The Auditorium Building also played a role in the women’s suffrage movement. In June 1916, suffrage organizations campaigned here. They targeted US leaders attending the Republican National Convention. The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage hosted the Suffrage First luncheon. They proposed the adoption of the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.
Later that year, President Wilson spoke at the Auditorium Theater. Suffragists protested his resistance to women’s voting rights. They gathered outside with banners and literature. Some Democratic attendees attacked them violently. Despite this, the suffragists continued their fight.
The Auditorium Theater closed during the Great Depression. In 1941, the city used it as a World War II servicemen’s center. Roosevelt University bought the Auditorium Building in 1947.
In 1975, the Auditorium Building became a National Historic Landmark. Today, the Auditorium Building stands as a Chicago City Landmark. It is part of Roosevelt University. It has seen countless performances and events. Its perfect acoustics and stunning design continue to inspire. From opera to rock concerts, the Auditorium Building has truly seen it all.
As you stand here, consider the layers of history within these walls. The Auditorium Building is a testament to Chicago’s architectural and cultural heritage. It embodies innovation, artistry, and the spirit of a city that constantly reinvents itself.