Some buildings in Chicago just scream to be looked at. It’s almost like they are trying to hard. But when you explore a building that you pass every day that you think is just a boring old building, then find it incredible, it’s like a rebirth. From then on as you pass it on your way to work, you just have to smile, because you know the secrets it holds.

How I feel about the Chicago Board of Trade buildings has been forever changed by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the amazing tour Penny gave today!

To kick of the “Around Chicago in 85 Tours” challenge, the CAF started at the CBOT to unveil its art deco glamour (not like it needs much help!).

I know that not everyone can get out during the day to take tours, so I thought I would tell you what I learned on the CBOT tour!

Founded in 1848, the Chicago Board of Trade was first located at 101 South Water Street, but it wasn’t until 1930 when the present board of trade building was built at the head of La Salle Street. Architects Holabird and Root designed the building in an art deco style, which was popular during that time. They were inspired to design the CBOT in an art deco style because of several events, including the discovery of King Tut’s tomb and the Paris Exposition of 1925.

It was because of these events that the architects decided to focus on geometrics, stylised patterns and verticality in the CBOT.

Changes in Chicago’s zoning laws in 1923 Chicago also affected how the CBOT was built. In 1923 Chicago wanted to eliminate “canyon effect”, or how streets in urban areas (i.e. valleys) cut through dense blocks of tall structures (i.e. canyon walls – like the Mag Mile). New zoning laws meant that architects could only build a tall structure on a 1/4 of the lot they owned, which is why the CBOT looks like an armchair (see first picture): The “arms” are much shorter than the tall, set-back tower behind it.

The architects issued a statement when building the CBOT, saying that they wanted it to be “modern” and  “a landmark at the foot of La Salle Street”.

It only took 13 months and $11 million to build the CBOT, and it came in underbudget.

At the top of the CBOT sits a stylised statue of Ceres, the goddes of grain, made from aluminium (very in style in the 30s!). She has no facial features, but holds a sheath of wheat in her right hand and a sample bag in her left (when the CBOT was first established, men would bring sample bags of wheat for customers to try).

The statues that flank the pyramid that Ceres stands on represent industry and agriculture. Similar statues that once were a part of the old CBOT building can be seen in the area to the left of the building (see statue pictures below).

Industry

Agriculture

The faces that flank the clock on the front of the building are a  Mesopotamian farmer (left) and a Native American holding corn (right).

When the CBOT was first built, the architects incorporated long windows (they can be seen just below the clock in the 1st and 2nd pictures) to accomodate farmers who would set up long tables just inside to display their grains. The long windows let in a lot of light and made it easier to see what was on the table.

Stylised images of wheat and corn were incorporated in the metal fences you see at the bottom of the long windows.

Just when you think you cannot be wowed by all the awesome details of the front of the CBOT, you go inside, which is a art deco lover’s dream!

Check out just part of the interior for the first building. There are nine types of marble in the lobby and all the metal is highly polished. The first part of the lobby has a low ceiling, and then you enter the second part, which embodies the sweeping verticality that the architects loved so much.

Looks king of like a bow of a ship, huh?

Notice the uplighting, the gold lines and the cool waviness of those white pillars. It feels like you are on the Titanic!

The 2nd building (there are 3 buildings!) was built in 1982, and has a post-modern feel. Helmut Jahn, the architect, still used the gold lines, the uplighting and the ship’s deck feel in the 2nd lobby, but used a very 80s turquoise to accent the walls.

It’s the open space in the floor above that is really striking, and Helmut used a lot of reflective glass and open elevators to show off his style:


Helmut also used the original 1930s south wall (part of the CBOT’s first building) as his fourth wall in this open space:

So I know what you are wondering: “What about the trading floor?”
Unfortunately, we could not snap pics of the trading floor, so I have to steal this picture from here:

This picture does not show just how massive the trading floor is. It is 92,000 sq. ft., large enough to hold a 747 from wing to tip! There are 1000 people on the trading floor at any given time, so it is a madhouse.

I can best describe the madness as a bunch of mimes (to buy and sell they have to make crazy hand signals) with laptop (baby) bjorns (thanks to one person on the tour for that comparison!). Insane!

I hope you learned something new about the CBOT and be sure to check out more Chicago Architecture tours and keep up with Jennifer Lucente’s blog about the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge!

Dev xx

Advertisement