This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 12.160.0.133 (talk) at 15:21, 29 December 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 15:21, 29 December 2006 by 12.160.0.133 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)1929 was a significant year for American architecture. Unaware of the approaching Stock Market crash that would stall the progress of any new projects, the nation was in the midst of a building boom. In New York City, where the metallic Art-Deco spire of the Chrysler Building was nearing completion, an architect named Walter W. Ahlschlager was preparing to debut three new projects. The first, the Beacon Hotel and Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, came on the heels of his other recent New York creation, the 5,920 seat Roxy Theatre. The second was the 49 story Carew Tower in downtown Cincinnati, which remains the tallest building in that city today. And finally, a 42 story tower commissioned by the Shrine Organization to become the future home of the Medinah Athletic Club in Chicago, the birthplace of the skyscraper. Although his selection for the latter project had been the result of a design competition, it was widely speculated that with so many other notable buildings on his resume, his appointment was practically preordained.