Constructed in 1888, this row house on Astor Street was the primary residence of John Wellborn Root. A founder of the “Chicago School” of architecture, Root is noted in history as one of the pioneering architects of modernism. Tragically, Root died an untimely death from pneumonia, in this residence, when he was just 41 years old. At the time, he was chief architect for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and a business partner with Daniel Burnham.

Root pioneered modern steel-frame construction. He is credited with developing the floating raft system of interlaced steel and concrete. His innovation of a reinforced concrete slab allowed a building of immense weight to rest on a solid foundation, even in uncertain soil conditions. His ground-breaking design allowed for the elimination of heavy foundation stones and the opening up of below grade elevations providing for unobstructed basements.

In 1873, Daniel H. Burnham and John Wellborn Root joined forces and opened their famed architecture firm. Root served as the chief designer, while Burnham was responsible for all sales and administrative duties. To this day, the partnership is considered one of the most important in the history of modern architecture. The firm prospered rebuilding Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871, and went onto design more than 300 buildings nationally. The partnership is noted for building the country’s first skyscraper, the Montauk (1882), the world’s tallest building, the Masonic Temple (1890), the first skyscraper to have plate glass windows, the Reliance (1890) and tallest load-bearing masonry building, the Monadnock (1891). Sadly, only three structures designed by the partnership still remain in Chicago, the Monadnock, the Rookery and the Reliance buildings.