Tribune Tower: A Gothic Icon of Chicago

Located at 435 North Michigan Avenue, the Tribune Tower is a 463-foot-tall, 36-story neo-Gothic skyscraper. Completed in 1925, it was built to house the Chicago Tribune newspaper. The tower resulted from an international design competition held in 1922 to mark the newspaper's 75th anniversary. The winning design, by New York architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, was selected from over 260 entries from 23 countries.The building's architecture showcases a late example of the neo-Gothic style, drawing inspiration from Medieval European towers like the Rouen Cathedral in France. The exterior is clad in Indiana limestone and adorned with ornate buttresses, especially striking when illuminated at night. Embedded within the tower's walls are fragments of famous structures from around the world, including the Great Wall of China, the Parthenon, and Westminster Abbey. These stones were collected by Tribune correspondents.Inside, the Tribune Tower features a Hall of Inscriptions with quotations from prominent figures like Benjamin Franklin, Voltaire, and Thomas Jefferson, emphasizing the importance of a free press. Carved images of Robin Hood and a howling dog, visual puns on the architects' names, can be found near the main entrance. While the Chicago Tribune moved out in 2018, the Tribune Tower remains a significant landmark and a prime example of Chicago's architectural legacy. It has been converted into luxury residences.