SR Crown Hall

806 Words2 Pages

S.R. Crown Hall, which is the home of the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology is one of the most beautiful, modern pieces of architecture that the City of Chicago has to offer its residents. This simple, steel and glass structure is the perfect representation of the modernist era of architecture and really creates an atmosphere that is extremely captivating to its viewers. As you look at it during the day, the panes of glass reflect the sky surrounding it and creates an almost seamless transition between its sleek, rectangular steel frame and the vast area around it, making a gem to the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology and also to the City of Chicago.
S.R. Crown Hall, which was designed by the German architect Ludwig Mies van de Rohe, whom was originally part of the Armour Institute of Technology which was a technical training school in the city. The school had made him the director of the department of architecture there in 1938 with high hopes that he would be able to transition the program into an internationally recognized program. After he moved from Germany to Chicago, he redesigned the school's architecture curriculum and hoped that he could help students understand the relationships between architecture, history, and the environment to develop inspirational and influential structures that applied these fundamentals.
In 1940, the Armour Institute became the Illinois Institute of Technology. Then, 16 years later, Ludwig Mies van de Rohe's masterpiece came to life. In 1956, one of his most well-known buildings in the City of Chicago known as S.R. Crown Hall, was completed. This building captured all of the things that Ludwig had inspired his students to capture in their work. He us...

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... of architects and engineers, I have a very warm heart for buildings of this nature. I am extremely blown away by steel and glass structures so I am very pleased I got to report about this structure. I did not go inside though because I was running short on time but I do plan to go back and find a way to visit or tour the building.
As I stated before, I was extremely moved by this building. With my background with architecture that I have, I would strongly suggest and encourage people to go and see it. I admire it very much and I think it is incredible. It has a lot to offer to the City of Chicago through its architectural and historic significance. Over the years, Ludwig Mies van de Rohe's masterpiece has become an essential gem to the campus of IIT and the City of Chicago and I also believe that this building needs to be more well known to the people of Chicago.

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