Chicago is the architectural capital of the United States. It was the birthplace of the skyscraper, led so many architectural movements, and houses innumerable design masterpieces. "Chicago Architecture 101" is a six-part series of 45-minute tours chronologically profiling the major architectural styles found downtown describing their influences and characteristics by showcasing beautiful buildings. All these styles build off of each other, so I hope you can see all six parts in the series.

"Commercial Style" is the first part of the six-part "Chicago Architecture 101" series. When skyscrapers began appearing in Chicago in the 1880s, the tallest buildings ever seen in the history of world civilization emerged. This was a tremendous opportunity for architects, but it also posed a challenge: how do you organize the exterior facade for tall buildings? Along came a new style of design… the Chicago Commercial Style.

There’s no registration cost, but tips are appreciated. All you have to do is register in advance here, and then watch the live-streamed tour from any web browser.