Tribune Tower remains an enduring icon of American architectural history, rising 463 feet above North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Built for Chicago Tribune owner Robert R. McCormick following an international design competition in 1922, the 36-floor neo-Gothic skyscraper redefined the city's skyline. Designed by New York architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, the building captured global attention and marked a transformative turning point in 20th-century skyscraper design.
The 1922 design competition itself served as a brilliant publicity stunt for the newspaper's 75th anniversary, drawing more than 260 entries from around the world and offering a grand prize of 50,000 dollars. While the winning neo-Gothic concept triumphed with its ornate buttresses and crown-shaped top modeled after Rouen Cathedral in France, runner-up Eliel Saarinen's Finnish design heavily influenced subsequent generations of modernist architects. The structure's exterior also famously incorporates historical fragments and stones collected from famous global landmarks.
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SubscribeFor nearly a century, the landmark building served as the operational heartbeat of the Chicago Tribune, related media entities, and WGN Radio, while also housing CNN's Chicago bureau. The lower levels became famous for embedded fragments of world history, ranging from the Parthenon and the Alamo to the Great Wall of China and a piece of steel recovered from the World Trade Center. It also features a rich collection of gargoyles and sculptural details crafted by artist Rene Paul Chambellan.
In recent years, the historic property underwent a massive transformation after the Tribune newspaper moved out in June 2018. Developers converted the iconic structure into luxury residences in a project costing more than 500 million dollars. Designated as a Chicago Landmark, the building continues to preserve its storied heritage while adapting to a new chapter of urban residential living.