1893 – Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

The main building, a classical Beaux-Arts building, of the Art Institute of Chicago was originally built for 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and subsequently the Art Institute. Officially opened to the public on December 8, 1893. The building has an Italian Renaissance facade with a pedimented 5-bayed central section that protrudes forward from the 7-bayed wings on either side. The side wings have blank arcades of arches to the front facade. The Grand Staircase was completed in 1910. However, the architectural ornamentation of the neighboring gallery continued intermittently until 1929 without ever being completed. Plans for a great dome over this staircase were abandoned due to expense. There have been numerous building additions over the years, as the museum expanded further into Grant Park. The original portion was renamed the Allerton Building in 1968.