Daley Center
- Architect
- C.F. Murphy Associates, Sculptor:Pablo Picasso
- Year
- 1965
- Style
- International Style
- City
- Chicago, IL
The Richard J. Daley Center, completed in 1965 and named for longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, is Chicago's premier civic building, housing courtrooms and offices for the Cook County Circuit Courts, the Cook County State's Attorney, and additional city and county offices. Jacques Brownson of C.F. Murphy Associates served as supervising architect in the International Style of the Second Chicago School, working alongside Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Loebl, Schlossman, Bennett & Dart as associated architects. At completion it was the tallest building in Chicago. Its granite-paved plaza, adjacent to the neoclassical City Hall-County Building, hosts gatherings and protests and is home to the Chicago Picasso, an untitled sculpture the artist gave to the city.
the building
Daley Plaza and the Picasso. The plaza in front of the tower is paved in granite and used for civic gatherings and protests. It is also the site of the Chicago Picasso, an untitled sculpture that Pablo Picasso gave to the city as a gift.
A supervised design. Jacques Brownson of C.F. Murphy Associates was the supervising architect on the tower, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Loebl, Schlossman, Bennett & Dart brought on as associated architects on the project.
Courts under one roof. The tower holds courtrooms and offices for the Cook County Circuit Courts and the Cook County State's Attorney, along with additional office space for the city and county governments.
the style
The Daley Center was built in the International Style of what is known as the Second Chicago School, the postwar wave of Chicago modernism. Its stripped-down modernist form, with interiors described as 'majestic,' stands in deliberate contrast to the ornamented neoclassical City Hall-County Building next door.
More on International Stylethe architect
Jacques Brownson served as supervising architect for C.F. Murphy Associates on the Daley Center, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Loebl, Schlossman, Bennett & Dart joining as associated architects on the project.
significance
The Daley Center was designated a Chicago Landmark (L-78) on November 6, 2002. When it was completed in 1965, it was briefly the tallest building in Chicago.
nearby
- Chicago Temple Building
- McCarthy Building
- Delaware Building
- City Hall-County Building
- Oliver Building
- Nederlander Theatre