Chicago Library Design Competition Collection
1987-1990
Hammond, Beeby and Babka Thomas Beeby (b. 1941) Arthur Erickson (1924-2009) Lohan Associates Murphy/Jahn Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
In 1987, Chicago conducted a juried competition to select an architect/developer/builder team for its new central public library building. The innovative competition program required a complete package from the entrants: a well-developed design from the architect, a construction schedule from the contractor with lists of subcontractors, and a guaranteed final construction cost from the developer. This collection, assembled by one of the jurors, documents the design submissions from the finalists. The architectural firms included Hammond Beeby and Babka; Eisenman Robertson; Arthur Erickson; Lohan Associates; Murphy/Jahn; and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill/Legoretta. The collection also includes the competition program, all finalists’ statements of qualifications, technical reviews of qualifications, project descriptions, and final design/build proposals.
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Contact the Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives:
archives@artic.edu
Printed papers, typescript papers, correspondence, black and white and color photographic prints, architectural reprographic prints and photocopies.