The Rookery: [Renovation by William Drummond]

The Staircase..
The staircase was a part of renovation by William Drummond in 1931.. He added this staircase that started at the second floor and protruded into the light court.

As commented by the author of Revitalize DesPlains..
[Wish I knew his name]..
Drummond did not add that staircase. He had added a lower flight of stairs that was removed in the renovation. The dramatic upper stair was pure Root; Wright diluted it by adding non-functional supports for aesthetics. The elevator lobbies are almost all that is left of Drummond's work.

Thanks for the information.. I think, it called for changes in the post, and so I've added a new post on the Oriel Staircase by John Wellborn Root.. Click here..

A marker at the Rookery lightcourt reads..
Renovations by William Drummond..
In 1931, The Rookery owners selected William Drummond to renovate the lobby and some of the interior office spaces. Drummond brought in an Art Deco aesthetic and divided the two-story entrance lobby into separate floors following Wright's example, he covered any exposed surface with marble, gilded and incised with stylistic bird motifs.
Drummond also made a few changes in the light court. He added a staircase that started at the second floor and protruded into the light court. He laid Tennessee marble over the original mosaic flooring and encased some of the mezzanine storefront in plaster. In subsequent years the skylight was tarred over, which transformed the light filled space into an illuminated cave.
Drummond enclosed the elevators with solid bronze doors and marble. Here the Art Deco aesthetics can be seen in the realistic birds, flora and fauna which were etched into the doors.





Apart from the changes in the second-floor staircase, other changes by Drummond includes, laying Tennessee marble over the original mosaic flooring.. The first image here, shows part of the original flooring.. and the second images shows Drummonds changes..


Drummond also brought changes in the elvators. He enclosed the elvator doors with solid bronze and decoared them with Art Deco birds, flora and fauna..
For more, click here..



For more on The Rookery.. click here..