Chicago Skyscrapers, 1934-1986: How Technology, Politics, Finance, and Race Reshaped the City

The second era of the Chicago skyscraper transformed the way Chicagoans lived and worked, with structural, mechanical, and cladding innovations influencing designs. Thomas Leslie's book, Chicago Skyscrapers, 1934–1986, reveals skyscrapers as the physical results of negotiations between motivating and mechanical causes, illustrated with over 140 photographs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 426 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2023
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Winner of the prestigious Chicago Book Award, presented by The Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library, this captivating book delves into the remarkable transformation of Chicago's skyline during the second period of the Chicago skyscraper era. Author Thomas Leslie offers a comprehensive exploration of the skyscraper concept and its physical manifestations within the broader context of city history. As construction emerged from the depths of the Great Depression, remarkable advancements in structural, mechanical, and cladding technologies continued to shape architectural designs. However, the most profound changes revolved around the motivations that drove these constructions. While profit remained a central factor in the bustling Loop, developers in other parts of Chicago collaborated with the political regime of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who viewed tall buildings as powerful tools for reshaping the city's appearance, demographics, and economy.

Through his meticulous research, Leslie unveils the intricate negotiations that took place between motivating and mechanical forces, ultimately shaping the physical manifestation of skyscrapers. Chicago Skyscrapers, 1934–1986, is a visual feast, adorned with over 140 captivating photographs, that vividly tell the fascinating stories of the people, ideas, negotiations, decision-making, compromises, and strategies that played a pivotal role in shaping the history of architecture and one of America's most iconic cities. This meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated book is a must-read for anyone interested in architecture, urban development, and the remarkable stories that have shaped our world.

Dimension: 279 x 216 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252044953