Chicago, IL – Reliance Building (1895). World’s first high-rise with a majority-glass facade, the prototype for curtain wall skyscrapers. The steel frame for the top ten floors was assembled in only fifteen days. (OC)
Chicago, IL – Reliance Building (1895). World’s first high-rise with a majority-glass facade, the prototype for curtain wall skyscrapers. The steel frame for the top ten floors was assembled in only fifteen days. (OC)
15 days?! That seems crazy fast for back then. Amazing.
Ace3421 on
US gov wants to tear it down due to its proximity to a federal court.
intaminag on
Looks quite modern, certainly newer than 1895…
stocks-mostly-lower on
It’s a beautiful building.
E-A-F-D on
I think this should be used as inspiration by more modern designers. Your investors will be happy, because it’s absolutely maximising the footprint, but the detail and interest in the facade stop it being “just a big block”.
I imagine the light inside is great, and the difference between this building and full glass wall is minimal.
Great interface with the human scale at street level too. I love it.
HomoSapien1548 on
I wonder why / how the full glass facade pattern became so popular?
LightningEye on
Was an elevator ever added into the building? Must be a lot of steps to climb to get to the top floor back then
GreywackeOmarolluk on
Were window panes of that size a novelty back then? Did this building lead to any special glass production techniques?
I suppose some Victorian-era conservatories would have used large panes of glass….
10 Comments
I love the bay windows on it
Chicago seems so cool
15 days?! That seems crazy fast for back then. Amazing.
US gov wants to tear it down due to its proximity to a federal court.
Looks quite modern, certainly newer than 1895…
It’s a beautiful building.
I think this should be used as inspiration by more modern designers. Your investors will be happy, because it’s absolutely maximising the footprint, but the detail and interest in the facade stop it being “just a big block”.
I imagine the light inside is great, and the difference between this building and full glass wall is minimal.
Great interface with the human scale at street level too. I love it.
I wonder why / how the full glass facade pattern became so popular?
Was an elevator ever added into the building? Must be a lot of steps to climb to get to the top floor back then
Were window panes of that size a novelty back then? Did this building lead to any special glass production techniques?
I suppose some Victorian-era conservatories would have used large panes of glass….