Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s financial district, The Rookery was built to be a prestigious business environment. The building has an unrivaled history in Chicago and has proven, throughout generations, to be a place of bold progress and great success.

Architects Daniel Burnham and John Root created an architectural masterpiece that is one of the greatest surviving examples of the early commercial skyscrapers, The Rookery. Its stately façade is unmatched in architectural detailing and is complemented by a rich and inviting environment within the building, highlighted by incredible architectural features including the mesmerizing oriel staircase and stunning light court.

1885 - Daniel Burnham and John Root are commissioned to design a building for the Central Safety Deposit Company to be located at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets.

1888 - The Rookery is completed, and at eleven stories high, becomes one of the grandest buildings in the world at the time. Burnham & Root move their offices to The Rookery. Their former offices are now known as The Burnham Library.

1905 - Frank Lloyd Wright updates the light court with a more modern appearance, encasing iron columns in gilded white marble and adding bronze chandeliers with prismatic glass.

1931 - William Drummond infuses Art Deco flair into The Rookery, dividing the two-story entrance lobby into separate floors and replacing Wright’s open-geometric elevator cages with solid bronze doors etched with birds.

1970 - The Rookery is placed on The National Register of Historic Places.

1972 - The City of Chicago designates The Rookery as an official Chicago Landmark.

1992 - The most extensive restoration in The Rookery’s history is complete, garnering numerous awards. A 12th story is added, and the Burnham Library is restored.

2014 - The Rookery achieves LEED Gold Certification and celebrates its strides in sustainability and energy efficiency, becoming the oldest LEED Gold-certified building in Illinois, as well as the oldest certified high-rise in the world. The Rookery hosts United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to recognize the building’s energy achievements.

2015 - Restrooms and common areas are upgraded to marble-rich, five-star quality. All-inclusive bike and runner’s room with showers and lockers are added.

2017 - Full elevator modernization accomplished, inclusive of Destination Dispatch and Visitor System.

2018 - The Rookery achieves ENERGY STAR Certification, meeting strict energy performance standards set by EPA to save energy and help protect the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

2019 - Technology is upgraded to include state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas, and in-building Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for enhanced cellular service.

2020 - The Rookery achieves WELL Health-Safety Rating which score is based on the buildings Sanitation procedures, emergency preparedness programs, health service resources, air & water quality management, etc...

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Did you know?

There are several stories about how The Rookery acquired its name. Some say it was called this because of the ramshackle appearance of the hastily built City Hall that occupied this site until 1885. Others claim the name originated with the crows that lived in the previous structure’s walls, paralleling the politicians who roosted there each day. It is also said that an adjacent fire station attracted scores of pigeons to the site to feed on the horses’ oats. Whatever the case, newspaper articles and first-hand accounts apply the word “rookery” when referring to the site of the post-fire City Hall. Unfortunately, people continued to call the new Burnham & Root masterpiece by the same name, which did not please the invested parties.

“I do not like the name which has been given to the Central Safety Deposit Company building, ‘The Rookery’ any more than you do, but it seems utterly impossible to give any name to it by which it will be called except that…”

— O.Aldis to P.Brooks

Perhaps Root had the last laugh. He designed open-mouthed crows – or rooks – on the building exterior that are reminiscent of the squawking corrupt city officials that once crowded about City Hall.

OUR STORY

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s financial district, The Rookery was built to be a prestigious business environment. The building has an unrivaled history in Chicago and has proven, throughout generations, to be a place of bold progress and great success.

1885 - Daniel Burnham and John Root are commissioned to design a building for the Central Safety Deposit Company to be located at the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets.

1888 - The Rookery is completed, and at eleven stories high, becomes one of the grandest buildings in the world at the time. Burnham & Root move their offices to The Rookery. Their former offices are now known as The Burnham Library.

1905 - Frank Lloyd Wright updates the light court with a more modern appearance, encasing iron columns in gilded white marble and adding bronze chandeliers with prismatic glass.

1931 - William Drummond infuses Art Deco flair into The Rookery, dividing the two-story entrance lobby into separate floors and replacing Wright’s open-geometric elevator cages with solid bronze doors etched with birds.

1970 - The Rookery is placed on The National Register of Historic Places.

1972 - The City of Chicago designates The Rookery as an official Chicago Landmark.

1992 - The most extensive restoration in The Rookery’s history is complete, garnering numerous awards. A 12th story is added, and the Burnham Library is restored.

2015 - Restrooms and common areas are upgraded to marble-rich, five-star quality. All-inclusive bike and runner’s room with showers and lockers are added.

2017 - Full elevator modernization accomplished, inclusive of Destination Dispatch and Visitor System.

2018 - The Rookery achieves ENERGY STAR Certification, meeting strict energy performance standards set by EPA to save energy and help protect the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

2019 - Technology is upgraded to include state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas, and in-building Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for enhanced cellular service.

2020 - The Rookery achieves WELL Health-Safety Rating which score is based on the buildings Sanitation procedures, emergency preparedness programs, health service resources, air & water quality management, etc...

Did you know?

Perhaps Root had the last laugh. He designed open-mouthed crows – or rooks – on the building exterior that are reminiscent of the squawking corrupt city officials that once crowded about City Hall.