NEW FORMS: The Chicago Tribune Tower Architectural Competition of 1922

When they launched the design competition for their new headquarters in 1922, the publishers of the Chicago Tribune were seeking to build “the world’s most beautiful office building.”  Prizes totaling $100,000 were offered to entrants, and 263 designers from 23 countries submitted entries.  The competition was a watershed moment in the evolution of skyscraper architecture, and the diversity of the entries underscored the broad palette available to architects as they struggled with appropriate forms for tall buildings.  In this lecture, David Brashear will examine the importance of the competition and some of the noteworthy submissions.