Chicago Public Library Archives. Harold Washington Library Center, Design Build Competition Records
Progressive Architecture, 1989
On October 7, 2021, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Harold Washington Library Center, Patrick Steffes of DOCOMOMO US/Chicago gave a virtual presentation on the decades-long battle to design and build a new Chicago Central Library. The largest municipal library in the U.S., what is now Harold Washington Library (HWLC) is also one of the largest public Postmodern buildings in the world.
Chicago Public Library Archives. Harold Washington Library Center, Design Build Competition Records
Included in our illustrated lecture were many unknown and unpublished images of South State Street and the South Loop, including never-published high-resolution photographs showing the site of the current Harold Washington Library Center and the surrounding area going back more than 100 years.
This presentation may be watched on the Chicago Public Library YouTube channel.
Many thanks to those who joined us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Harold Washington Library Center!
- Docomomo Webinar on Wednesday, January 13, 2021: The 1988 Competition for Chicago’s New Central Library
- That Not-So-Great Street: State Street in Transition
- Chaddick Institute Webinar on Thursday, January 28, 2021: Revitalizing Chicago’s South Loop
- Forgotten Chicago 2018 Event & Tour Season
- Building New: 25 Years of the Harold Washington Library Center
