The Complete Architecture of Adler & Sullivan

by Richard Nickel, Aaron Siskind, John Vinci

Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) was a giant of architecture, the father of architectural modernism, and one of the earliest builders of the skyscraper. Along with Dankmar Adler (1844–1900) he designed many of the buildings that defined nineteenth-century architecture not only in Chicago but in cities across America—and continue to be admired today. Among their iconic designs are the former Chicago Stock Exchange, Chicago’s Auditorium Building and Carson Pirie Scott flagship store, the Wainwright Building in St. Louis, and the Guaranty Building in Buffalo. This first-of-its-kind catalogue raisonné of the work of Adler and Sullivan—both as a team and individual architects—is a lavish celebration of the designs of these two seminal architects who paved the way for the modern skylines that continue to inspire city dwellers today.

The quest to pull together a complete catalogue of their work was first undertaken in 1952 by photographer Aaron Siskind and Richard Nickel, one of his graduate students at what is now the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. This intense, decades-long labor of love has resulted in an extensive and unique resource that includes a complete listing of all of the buildings and projects undertaken by Adler and Sullivan. Each listing contains historic photographs, architectural plans (when available), and a description of each project. Alongside over two and hundred fifty essays are eight hundred photographs of their buildings—many of which have since been demolished—including images by Nickel, Siskind, and other noted photographers.

This rich, incomparable reference will be treasured by readers interested in architecture, photography, and Chicago’s rich history as an architectural mecca. 

Genres: Architecture

472 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Howard Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decades in the making, this is an essential reference and at times a heartbreaking book: so many of the Sullivan’s buildings have been destroyed. The photos here show the great workmanship of the craft trades that built these beautiful, powerful buildings. We have nothing like them today. If all you know about Louis Sullivan’s Chicago buildings are the same handful of dark, shadowy photos, this book will really let you see Sullivan’s genius for the first time.

Seek out also the story of the man who started this project: Richard Nickel in They All Fall Down: Richard Nickel's Struggle to Save America's Architecture by Richard Cahan.
They All Fall Down is one of the best preservation books ever written.

[jw468 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning print quality. They All Fall Down: Richard Nickel's Struggle to Save America's Architecture is also worth reading because it helps explain all the work it took to realize this book.

[Architeacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been so many years in the making that I didn't really believe I'd see it or the completion of the Sagrada Familia. I haven't put this book on the bathroom scale, but it's worth every pound!