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The Rookery Building Atrium #2

Posted by
Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 14 November 2019 in Architecture and Portfolio.

View of the Rookery Building's Atrium space as you look south opposite the entrance. Before the major renovation undertaken by McClier Architects in 1988, the atrium had undergone extensive change in prior decades. Maintenance trumped natural light aesthetics, and the skylight of the Atrium was covered with waterproofing and paint. Most of the previously translucent surfaces, like the windows, were also painted over. These changes transformed the space, robbing it of its airy, fanciful atmosphere that once made the Rookery unique. In subsequent years the skylight was tarred over and painted many times which transformed the light-filled space to an illuminated cave.

McClier restored the court’s glass ceiling, protecting it and the light well by installing a new skylight at roof level. In essence, a skylight above a skylight. They also uncovered original mosaic floor fragments, from which they extrapolated a new overall design for the floor.

My visit to The Rookery on March 28, 2019 was compromised by the atrium space being occupied by planners preparing the space for a wedding two days later. So I present to you a shot from my archives taken in 2011. Much of the space looks exactly the same eight years later.

Photo captured March 8, 2011.

SONY DSLR-A300 1/30 second F/3.5 ISO 200 27 mm (35mm equiv.)

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Spotlight Images

Devi from Chennai, India

I like this angle...and the stairway...and the reflection on the polished floor !

14 Nov 2019 5:46am

By Marie from Entre BY-MARIE et MONTAGNES, France

Magnificent stairway and very well framing too.

14 Nov 2019 5:55am

Jypyä Pop from Turku, Finland

Gorgeous, very gorgeous....

14 Nov 2019 6:21am

omar from Hamburg, Germany

so much golden light and pretty nice reflections...

14 Nov 2019 6:33am

Claudine/canelle from Lorient, France

Vraiment une entrée très belle !!
Merci pour les explications
Bonne journée

14 Nov 2019 7:08am

Roland Theys from gerpinnes, Belgium

Excellent composition shot!

14 Nov 2019 7:14am

Ralf Kesper from Fröndenberg, Germany

Even good shot. Many details in this architecture.

14 Nov 2019 7:41am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

What an expressive image of this remarkable architecture.

14 Nov 2019 8:23am

fateme@@ from Dezful, Iran

Amazing details.

14 Nov 2019 9:38am

Pascale MD from Occitanie, France

Tout cet ensemble architectural est de toute beauté.
Bonne journée Steven

14 Nov 2019 10:12am

grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom

You have to wonder how anyone could contemplate painting over that wonderful ceiling. Another lovely capture of this beautiful space

14 Nov 2019 10:18am

Hiro from Kyoto, Japan

Really gorgeous !

14 Nov 2019 10:57am

Rose from United States

Such a fantastic place...

14 Nov 2019 11:40am

Anne from France

C'est magnifique!

14 Nov 2019 1:28pm

Dreams come true from Utrecht, Netherlands

I dreaming to photograped the architecture from this building .
Another magnificent warm picture with many details .

14 Nov 2019 2:30pm

Nicou from Sion, Switzerland

quelle lumière et intérieur de classe ces détails d’architecture excellent
Belle soirée

14 Nov 2019 2:31pm

Existence Artistique from Angers, France

beau

14 Nov 2019 2:32pm

Rick from Toronto, Canada

Such elegance. A beautiful shot of this gorgeous interior.

14 Nov 2019 2:44pm

Ruthiebear from Titusville, NJ, United States

Beautiful! What an elegant and grand looking place

14 Nov 2019 3:10pm

Sam from Chennai, India

Beautiful image of this grand looking atrium space. Excellent composition and lovely interiors. :)

14 Nov 2019 4:35pm

Mhelene from Villiers-sur-Marne, France

Beautiful , full of light !

14 Nov 2019 4:54pm

Adela Fonts from Barcelona, Spain

This building is wonderful. Excellent point of view...

14 Nov 2019 5:11pm

willy from Belgium

un très bel atrium, l'escalier, la verrière..etc

superbe photographie Steven

greetings

14 Nov 2019 5:31pm

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

This is such a warm and welcoming Atrium.

14 Nov 2019 5:52pm

Remus from Portugal

Majestic interior space.
Amazing details!

14 Nov 2019 5:56pm

tataray from Charentes-Poitou, France

Tout est superbe ici et tellement mis en valeur par ta prise photographique.

14 Nov 2019 6:28pm

London Caller from United Kingdom

No access to US Bank on first floor?
Oh, it's second floor there, right? ;)

14 Nov 2019 7:07pm

Don from Spokane, United States

Fine comment to go along with an excellent picture of this place.

14 Nov 2019 7:08pm

yo from Ile de France, France

L'escalier, la verrière sont de toute beauté !

14 Nov 2019 7:59pm

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

it's quite an extraordinary structure

14 Nov 2019 9:26pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

A breathtaking interior and wonderful photo of it.

14 Nov 2019 10:04pm

Harry from Apex, NC, United States

it is so sad the abuse that beautiful architecture and construction sometimes suffer in the name of expediency. it is even sadder when one is allowed to deteriorate to the point of destruction, as so many have. So when one is rescued and restored it a positive for us all to appreciate

15 Nov 2019 1:25am

Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada

That is another lovely shot.

15 Nov 2019 1:42am

Elaine Hancock from Olney, United States

The architects did a magnificent job with the renovation. I love the color and the lighting in the space.

15 Nov 2019 2:22am

Ginnie from Netherlands

I can totally see why you are captivated by this historic landmark, Steven. Thanks for showing it to us so carefully...and brilliantly.

15 Nov 2019 6:42am

Tomix from landerneau, France

Beautiful place !

15 Nov 2019 9:51am

jeanmadis from Chonburi, Thailand

J'aime beaucoup cette ambiance très lumineuse.

15 Nov 2019 10:34am

Marjolein from Westvoorne, Netherlands

Really a beautiful building with atmosphere

15 Nov 2019 12:07pm

Lougris from Toulouse, France

superbe plafond !!

15 Nov 2019 2:12pm

tataray from Charentes-Poitou, France

Tout est si beau ici, j'irai bien faire un petit tour !... Tu le mets très bien en valeur.
Bonne soirée.

16 Nov 2019 7:59pm

Martine Girard from Brest, France

J'aime les rampes d'escalier et le plafond.

17 Nov 2019 3:50am

JPA from Paris, France

superbe bâtiment!! amts

17 Nov 2019 2:09pm

Elizabeth Buckalew from Flagstaff, United States

This is so beautiful! I love your photo.
*PS I've not been able to get onto AMinus3 for a week.... wasn't ignoring you! :-)

18 Nov 2019 1:47am

@Elizabeth Buckalew: Not to worry! We all have things to do and places to go. Have a great week ahead!