Chicago, Illinois known to some as The Windy City, to others as The Second City, The City of Broad Shoulders or to others still as The Home of The Skyscraper. In 1890, Chicago was just beginning to earn that last name. For it was in Chicago in 1890 that the foundation of a fourteen story building was begun. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it held for the general public no special meaning during it's construction. It was begun without a lot of fanfare and ceremony, yet over the years it's importance in the history of building buildings, particularly those called skyscrapers, has grown tremendously. It wasn't to be the tallest building in the world, nor even the tallest in Chicago. To the average person it wasn't anything special, at least outside of the specialness that all skyscrapers held at that time.
When it was completed five years later it was known as the Reliance building. It was a striking building. Immediately recognizable as different from other skyscrapers in that this building at 32 North State Street, was mostly glass. The Reliance building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since January of 1970 and designated a Chicago landmark building since July of 1995 is often credited with being the forefather of the modern glass and steel skyscraper. Architectural historians lavish it with accolades for it's pioneering building style and sometimes give it the title of the being the first building to use what became known as Chicago construction, that of an internal steel frame to which the exterior walls are attached. Prior to this time skyscrapers were built as a single integrated building. The walls were both protection from the elements and structural elements in the overall building's design. The "Chicago" style created a central iron or steel skeleton to provide structural integrity. Attached to that were the building's walls. Since the walls no longer provided the sole means of support they could be made of materials other than brick or stone. Glass quickly became the wall of choice, and has remained so throughout the years.
By 1990 the building had fallen into a disgraceful state of dilapidation, as had the surrounding neighborhood. The Reliance building, revered in thought and words was in reality nearly devoid of tenants and slowly falling apart. The cornice along with much of the buildings terra cotta façade was crumbling and deteriorating due to years of neglect. The original ornate cornice was finally removed in order to prevent a tragedy waiting to happen. Awkward fire escapes and decades worth of city grime covered the once airy cream colored building. From structural art to painful eyesore, the Reliance building had hit rock bottom.
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