Illinois Archives

Wendell Campbell: A Black Architect Who Paved the Way for Others

February 18, 2022
Written by Marissa Moldoch and Featured Image Photography by Courtney McGough/flickr

Exterior shot of The McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois

Wendell Campbell’s influence can be seen throughout many cities in the United States, and his legacy lives on through the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). This visionary had a…

View Post

View Post

The Movers and Shakers of Midwest Modern

July 26, 2020
Written by Jen Jones Donatelli

What do places like Columbus, Indiana; Midland, Michigan; and Oak Park, Illinois have in common? They’re all hot pockets for mid century modern architecture—and they’re just the tip of the…

View Post

View Post

This Newly Listed Dart Home Is a Time Capsule

March 14, 2019
Written by Elise Portale

With only two previous owners, this 1950s home built by Midwestern MCM legend Edward Dart showcases many preserved features the architect was known for.

View Post

View Post

Listed: An Illinois Home with an Impressive Pedigree

September 24, 2017
Written by Lou Zucaro and Photography by VHT Studios

If first impressions are essential, the monolithic curb appeal of this 1966 Dennis Blair home has us hooked.

View Post

View Post

The Miesian “Corncob Towers” of The Windy City

August 6, 2017
Written by Jolene Nolte

Marina City anticipated the revitalization of urban centers and stands as a distinctive feat of modernist architecture.

View Post

View Post

S.R. Crown Hall: Welcome to a Miesian Masterpiece

March 5, 2017
Written by Jolene Nolte

Quintessential of modern architecture, Chicago's S.R. Crown Hall is one Mies van der Rohe's self-proclaimed best representation of his design philosophy.

View Post

View Post

Sweet Swiss Miss, Pt. 1: Life in a Keck + Keck

September 19, 2016
Written by Michelle Gringeri-Brown and Photography by Jim Brown

They loved midcentury design, including their 1955 Keck + Keck home in Chicago, without even realizing it. So they were surprised at what they found in Palm Springs.

View Post