Question

The Chicago Tribune Tower (1922-1925) in many ways represents the ambivalence of the 1920s because its planning and structural frame were very sophisticated and modern for its time, while its exterior skin was Gothic. Who designed this building, and how was the firm selected?

Answer

The firm of Howells & Hood was selected from among 259 entries in the Tribune Tower Design Competition. The competition drew entries from around the world and highlighted the struggle between traditional and modern architectonic ideals. The building combines the New York tower form (with Gothic elements) with the tripartite organization of Chicago skyscrapers. The Gothic top was more/ less modeled after the Tower of Butter of the Cathedral of Rouen (1485).