S.R. Crown Hall
About this property
S. R. Crown Hall is a building on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Completed in 1956, the structure was designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the IIT's College of Architecture, which he led for two decades. Crown Hall is a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark. The building occupies a rectangular site of 120 by 220 feet (37 m × 67 m), with its longer axis running east–west, and consists of two levels: the main story and a basement. The main level is raised 6 feet (1.8 m) and is accessed mainly from a porch to the south. The glass curtain wall is divided horizontally into three tiers of panes, interspersed with steel columns and mullions. The roof is 18 feet (5.5 m) above the main level and is supported by four girders, which rest on four pairs of columns. Inside, the main level is a mostly open plan space with half-height partitions; there are no interior columns besides two mechanical shafts. The basement consists of rooms arranged around a U-shaped corridor that links two stairways. The site was previously occupied by Mecca Flats, which was demolished in 1952. Mies was first commissioned to design a lecture hall for IIT's architecture school in 1950. The building was named in honor of the businessman S. R. Crown, whose brothers Henry and Irving donated $250,000 for construction. Work began on December 2, 1954, and the building was dedicated on April 30, 1956. The windows were replaced in the 1970s, and an air-cooling system was added in the late 20th century. Extensive renovations in the 2000s fixed issues with the design, upgraded mechanical systems, and made the building more energy efficient. Over the years, the structure has received praise for its design, and numerous commentators described it as a major accomplishment by Mies. The building has also received architectural awards and has been depicted on a postage stamp.
Location
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about S.R. Crown Hall
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Questions about this property
When was S.R. Crown Hall listed on the National Register?
S.R. Crown Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 6, 2001.
What type of historic resource is S.R. Crown Hall?
S.R. Crown Hall is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is S.R. Crown Hall a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. S.R. Crown Hall has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for S.R. Crown Hall?
The period of significance for S.R. Crown Hall is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near S.R. Crown Hall?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near S.R. Crown Hall will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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