Formerly: Chicago Public Library Formerly: Dearborn Park Built: 1897 Designed by: Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge Renovated: 2008 Type: Museum Stories: 3 Location: 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, United States
T oday a repository of cultural information, its form gives away its original purpose -- a repository of knowledge. This was the first permanent home of the Chicago Public Library. Its stately columns give away its municipal heritage, while its large windows show that light infiltration was of paramount importance. Those first books that filled its stacks after the Great Fire were donations from Britain, and were an important symbol of the global outpouring of sympathy and support, which followed the destruction. Just as the start of work on the library in 1871 symbolized new life in Chicago, the building, itself, was given a new life in 1991. That's when the city's new public library, The Harold Washington Library center, opened, freeing this building to evolve for use in its current mission.
The dome over Preston Bradley Hall was designed by Jacob Holzer of Tiffany Glass and Decorating. It is 38 feet in diameter.
1930's: The exterior of the Preston Bradley dome is covered with concrete blocks to protect it.
1960's: The space between the Preston Bradley dome and its cover is illuminated, simulating the natural light that was intended to pass through it.
2008: The dome over Preston Bradley Hall is renovated by Holabird & Root, removing the cover and once again exposing it to sunlight as it was meant to be.
The Tiffany glass dome at Bradley Hall is claimed to be the largest in the world. This has not been verified, however.
Tiffany glass domes in the north and south ends of the building, as well as other mosaics by the Tiffany studios.
Did You Know?
This location was once Dearborn Park.
Part of the land on which this building was erected was donated to Civil War veterans by the United States Government. That is why there is a "Grand Army of the Republic Hall" in the building.
The Preston Bradley dome is made up of 240 panels with more than 30,000 individual pieces of glass.
kirby
Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:51pm
Rating: Five stars. The building on the inside is very much so beautiful! yet the staff there is very rude, but they cant take away the charm of the old library!!!
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kirby
Five stars.