The Rookery: The Burnham Library

The Burnham Library..
When the Rookery was completed in 1888, Burnham & Root move their offices to the building. The office of Daniel Burnham and John Root is now the Burnham Library. The pictures above shows, Daniel Burnham and John Root in their office in the Rookery, circa 1890.

During the 1980's renovations, one important aspect of the recovery was Burnham & Roots former offices on the eleventh floor. The space has undergone many changes and suffered a great deal of abuse. The library was restored with meticulous attention to details, including the fireplace, wood panels, bookshelves and even custom-loomed rug to match the original.


World's Columbian Exposition was planned here..
This office [now library] on the 11th floor of the Rookery, is where the plans for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition took place in 1890. Burnham & Root were first named consulting architects, but Burnham resigned that position to become head of construction. When Root died suddenly in January 1891, Burnham assumed responsibility for overseeing and completing construction for some 150 buildings on more than 600 acres of land.
And it was in this room that the planning took place! The framed photos from the World's Columbian Exposition can be seen in the office..





For more on The Rookery.. click here..