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Wrigley2 The Top


Wrigley2 The Top
Photo Information
Copyright: Lucio Red (Redrubin) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 27 N: 833] (6296)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-27
Categories: Architecture
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-13 1:13
Viewed: 262
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
the top of Wrigley

The Jewel of "The Mile"

The gleaming white Wrigley Building is one of America’s most famous office towers. Located on Michigan Avenue on the north bank of the Chicago River, at the southern most point of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the Wrigley Building consists of two sections connected by an open walkway at street level and two enclosed walkways.

History
The land for the building, chosen by William Wrigley Jr., is unique because of its triangular shape. Mr. Wrigley’s goal was to create an impressive headquarters for his successful chewing gum company and the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue was the perfect location. During January 1920, when excavation for the building began, the Michigan Avenue Bridge was under construction, and the portion of the avenue north of the river was then known as Pine Street. The Wrigley Building became the pioneer structure in the development of the north Michigan Avenue business district.

The architectural shape of the Wrigley Building is patterned after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. However, the ornamental design of the building is based on an American adaptation of French Renaissance style. Mr. Charles Beersman, chief designer for the building’s architects, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, used his talent and imagination to combine the two concepts.

On November 11, 1920, the building’s cornerstone was laid for the southern tower. Office space in this part of the building was already entirely rented when construction was completed in April of the following year. In May of 1924, the north tower was completed and connected to the south section with walkways at street level and between the third floors. Later, in 1931, a 14th floor walkway was put in place.

Scale
The two towers, not including the levels below Michigan Avenue, have a combined area of 453,433 square feet. While the north section of the building is equivalent to 21 stories, the south section, with its clock tower, totals 30 stories. From upper Michigan Avenue, the distance to the spire at the top of this tower is 425 feet. The giant two-story clock in the south tower features four dials, each 19 feet, 7 inches in diameter. Each dial has an hour hand that measures 6 feet, 4 inches and a minute hand that is 9 feet, 2 inches long. These clock hands were originally made of redwood, but were recently refashioned in aircraft-grade aluminum to increase their durability. Because of its multiple dials and prominent positioning, people coming from all directions use the clock to check the time.

One of the most striking features of the Wrigley Building results from being clad in approximately 250,000 individual glazed terra cotta tiles, the most extensive use of terra cotta in the world during the time of construction. Each tile is uniquely identified in a computer database that enables consistent tracking and maintenance of each and every tile located on the building. The interior of the building contains extensive brasswork throughout each of the tower's lobbies, including the entryway, elevator doors and lobby clock.

Occupants
In addition to housing the international headquarters of the Wm Wrigley Jr. Company, the Wrigley Building is home to many other companies. Tenants include investment management companies, advertising agencies, marketing firms, a full-service bank, and foreign consulates. Over 1,300 people come to work each day in the Wrigley Building.

Lighting
The nighttime floodlighting of the Wrigley Building is one of the nation’s major commercial lighting displays. Illumination of the building is provided by several banks of lights, including 116, 1,000-watt metal halide lamps mounted on the south side of the Chicago River. These, along with another seven lamps at street level, keep the Michigan Avenue and Chicago River sides of the building brightly lit. West of the Wrigley Building an additional 16, 1,000-watt metal halide lights are used. To help create the effect of gradual brightness toward the top, 62 lights were installed on the building itself.

Except for the years marked by World War II, a three-month period in the winter of 1971 when a new system of lights was being installed, and nine months in 1973-1974 when an energy crisis called for stringent conservation of all natural resources, the illuminated Wrigley Building has been a bright feature of Chicago's evening skyline since the lights were first turned on in 1921. The decision to illuminate the building again beginning on August 17, 1974, was made only after assurances by Commonwealth Edison, the local power company, that this off-peak use of electricity would not drain any essential fuel from the city’s power sources.

For over 75 years, the Wrigley Building has been recognized as one of Chicago's most attractive buildings. Its sparkling white terra-cotta cladding, well-proportioned architecture and nighttime lighting have established it as of symbol of Chicago in many books, motion pictures and television programs, and is an unforgettable nighttime sight for Chicago’s residents and visitors.
black_dream, Teresat, manujmehta, zhelach, leeloo, mvdisco, MagdalenaN, amcolli, jazmin, szatanowska has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To amcolli: siRedrubin 1 05-17 00:22
To TripleT: hiRedrubin 1 05-17 00:21
To pozaru: hiRedrubin 1 05-17 00:20
To jazmin: thanksRedrubin 1 05-17 00:16
To ioana_tm: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-17 00:16
To mbrito: thansRedrubin 1 05-17 00:13
To cobra112: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-14 05:58
To Silvio2006: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-14 05:57
To bilgekurt: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-13 22:46
To Silvio2006: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-13 22:41
To rewshearer: thanksRedrubin 1 05-13 21:14
To MagdalenaN: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-13 21:10
To Matylda76: thanks to youRedrubin 1 05-13 09:21
To Teresat: graciasRedrubin 1 05-13 08:57
To manujmehta: thanksRedrubin 1 05-13 08:57
To Koala: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-13 08:56
To zhelach: hiRedrubin 1 05-13 08:55
To leeloo: LeeRedrubin 1 05-13 08:55
To mvdisco: merciRedrubin 1 05-13 08:52
To cobra112: siRedrubin 1 05-13 08:51
To black_dream: ciaoRedrubin 1 05-13 03:06
To germma: thanksRedrubin 1 05-13 03:05
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Critiques [Translate]

Impressive building Lucio,
nice details and colours, well done!

Good morning, Lucio! :) GREAT posting today, my dear! Excellently seen, composed, perfect colors and light. Congrats!
Diana

p.s. I have a surprise for you... ;) :)

Bom dia lucio

Great capture. Great definition. great perfection.

My regards

teresat

hello lucio
wonderful architecture
good perspective
i like this tiltup shot
informative notes.

regards
manuj mehta

  • Great 
  • Koala Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 305 W: 16 N: 61] (1814)
  • [2008-05-13 3:22]
  • [+]

What a complex architecture.
Very interesting.
The pov is great dear Lucio! and so are the colors,very vivid :P

Have a nice day!

Ciao!
Alexandra

Hello Lucio!
Very nice building and story! Good composition and perspective! Beautiful colors, lights and details!
TFS, Ciao, Zorica

Dear Lucio Red!
Wonderful top.
Wonderful architecture.
Marvelous contrast.
Good composition.
TFS!

Bonjour Lucio Ciao,
Impressionnant le toit de cet tour du Wrigley Building, superbe architecture et détails, belle perpective et lumière, superbe point de vue .
compliments
Michel Ciao

Eccezionale verticalità. Bello il contrasto con il blu del cielo. Questo edificio esprime potenza.

Roberto

ciao Lucio
up, top to the sky
POV is superb, great capture
details well seen, colours are good and sharp
long long note...
ciao, grazie
K.

Hello Lucio
it's so monumental and so splendid building, your great POV show it excellent, and grey building with amazing blue sky create impressive contrast, excellent sharpness and details too
well done dear friend
ciao
Magda

Hi Lucio,
Perfect symmetrycal sight. Very good POV. Clear, sharp photo. I liked to way flag's wave in this photo.
Congratulations
TFS
Respectfully...

ergUn

Stunning architecture captured with amazing clarity and sharpness. What else can I say! I love Chicago and I love this shot!
Rew

Ciao Lucio, dal basso in alto, sembra quasi una versione futurista del duomo di Milano, gran bella vista di questa straordinaria architettura, ciao Silvio

un pizzo delicato nel cielo blu di chicago, eppure esprime potenza, forza, audacia e voglia di conquista, ma non senza tendere una mano verso l'alto in un gesto che è quasi una richiesta.
bellissimo scatto lucio, grazie
anna

Pretty colors and I love how you caught the flag in a curvy/wavy way, it looks great!
Tracy

  •      
  • pozaru Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3296 W: 662 N: 1893] (15833)
  • [2008-05-15 4:52]
  • [+]

Excellent architectural photo; well done !


v

Hi, Lucio!

Interesting theme and note. Good viewpoin and nice compositionn.

jazmin

Hi dear friend,
good angle of shot and details.
Nicely seen and presented.
Best wishes,
Ioana

Hello Lucio,
Great POV, excelent detail and colours, and a great sharpness. Excelent compo giving the great majesty of the tower.
My Regards, mb
: later

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