"The Illini Union at 1401 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was built in 1941." by Beyond My KenLinks to an external site. is licensed under GFDLLinks to an external site..
ARCHITECUAL CONTEXT
Original:
The Michigan Square Building took the place of nearly thirty structures, mostly homes, in a time of mass-scale development on North Michigan Avenue.
As space became available after the Michigan Bridge opened in 1920, the rich filled in, which called for high-end locations (like the Michigan Square Building) to occupy them. Because of this North Michigan Avenue quickly became a "posh" retail center
It was important to construct a building of grandeur and status to coincide with the high-end atmosphere of early 20th century North Michigan Avenue.
Bakeries, stores, and barbershops occupied the commercial space as art deco architecture and design spilled into their spaces.
Contemporary:
Decorative pieces of the Diana Court can be viewed today at the Art Institute of Chicago (two of Miller’s Diana Court Clerestory Windows) and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Milles’ Diana Fountain).
Two of the Diana Court Clerestory Windows are on display in Gallery 200 in the "Fragments of Chicago's Past" exhibit, which features a variety of architectural elements from many eras of Chicago's architectural history.
Many believe that Miller would not be pleased that his works now hang in museums, as he believed that his work was meant to be lived in, not exhibited.
Today, the site of 540 N. Michigan Ave is occupied by the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile Hotel. The building stands at forty-four stories and includes several retail stores on the ground floor including a Forever 21, Shoe Store, and MAC Cosmetics.
The hotel encompasses the entire block area that the Michigan Square Building once did.
The Marriott is surrounded by other modern, mid-century modern, and 21st century modern low-rises and skyscrapers, but across the street the façade's of the old McGraw-Hill Building stand proud on the Gwen Hotel. The goddess Diana can be seen as one of the façades too.
The area is still consumed by retail business, but now hosts many homes (apartments and condos), restaurants, clubs, hotels, and office spaces.
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