North Branch...

A couple of close friends and my significant other, went on the Chicago Architecture Foundations Architecture Cruise this afternoon. I have taken several architecture cruises in the past, but this one is the grandaddy of them all. Our docent Sylvia was fantastic, entertaining, and didn't dumb the facts down to the palatable level of most Navy Pier visitors.

Part of the trip involved going up the north branch of the Chicago River, which is missed by most of the architecture cruises. So, since the north branch isn't often seen, I thought I would bring it to you. This is the bridge house for the Grand Ave Bridge.


Looking back... The three Montgomery Ward buildings. On the left, the oldest of MW warehouse from 1906, now a tech center and condos. On the right, is MW warehouse from 1930, now condos. In the rear center, is the MW corporate office (also now condos) from 1974. Designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the man that designed the World Trade Center.


At the top of the 1930 warehouse is a bronze figure of Diana, Lighting the Way for Commerce.


Erie on the Park by Lucian LaGrange is one of my favorite buildings of the past ten years. The view from the river does an excellent job of showing off it's diagonal support structure.