Daniel Burnham and John Root were pioneering architects in the late 19th century. They designed some of the first steel-framed skyscrapers in Chicago, including the Masonic Temple Building. They also designed other notable buildings like The Rookery that helped establish their fame. However, their greatest achievement was designing most of the buildings and landscapes for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where they introduced innovative construction techniques using wood and plaster. Burnham and Root revolutionized architecture through their pioneering use of steel structures and temporary construction methods.

1. Honors Architectural Drawing
Class: Period 7
Daniel Burnham and John Root
Presented to: Mr. Mugno
PresentedBy:ZacharyJob
Date: November16th
, 2011

2. JOB 1
Although many famous architects may not be known by their name, usually their works
remain thus the architect is never forgotten. Unlike most, Daniel Burnham and John Root are
unsung geniuses of the architectural realm who advanced architectural practices immensely.
Acknowledged with the creation of the unspeakably glorious feat known as “The White City,”
otherwise recognized as the Columbian Exposition, both architects arguably accomplished one of
man’s most incredible achievements. Unquestionably, Burnham and Root are two of the most
accomplished architects in history for their innovations and structures.
While Root already was scrapping a living, Burnham still had no idea as to what to do
with his life. While Burnham had not received formal education in architecture, instead he had
learned from William Jenney (“Daniel Burnham”). Concerned for his son’s indecisiveness, his
father got a firm to pair Root and Burnham (Larson 70). Unknowingly, his father successfully
found Burnham a partner who would inspire him to become an incredible architect. After a few
commissions on houses and skyscrapers under Carter, Drake, & Wright (“Burnham and Root”),
both found they could start a business of their own. Under the leadership of Burnham, Burnham
and Root was created. Having already established themselves under leadership of another firm as
promising architects, some entrusted the two men with projects where both Burnham and Root
would deliver.
While both Burnham and Root still continued working with houses and private sector
structures to generate a constant income, important commissions came by which did help
establish the two businessmen. Soon enough, buildings like The Rookery, Randy McNally, and
the Equitable buildings all gave the group great fame (“Burnham and Root”(2)). Completed in
1888 (“The Rookery”), The Rookery gained the partners immense fame. Since the two were only

3. JOB 2
well known for their private works, such a building truly helped the group advance. Through the
use of concrete reinforced with steel gridding, the duo designed an extravagant yet open structure
where the entire main area was roofed by windows. Even Frank Lloyd Wright and William
Drummond admired the building so that they rented it out as a work place for extended amounts
of time (“A Rich History”). The structure was so beloved by all generations that it remains a
landmark, and it is the only high-rise structure to have survived from Burnham and Root. While
The Rookery was unique for its style, The Randy McNally building was an incredible feat for its
construction. Used as Burnham’s first experiment in building an all steel structure, this building
was leaps ahead of its time. Seeing that steel had not been common practice in any building,
bearing-structures had reigned supreme since the dawning of what they considered “modern”
architecture. Unlike skeleton framing created via steel, the outer walls of a structure would
actually serve as support for the building. At this time, buildings using this support were limited
height-wise as the structure had no means to remain stable at extreme heights. While simply a
test then, Burnham and Root had laid the foundation for a vast new method which would later
serve them and the world. Lastly, the Equitable building helped finalize how flexible Burnham
and Root were upon its completion in 1892 (“Equitable Building”). Joel Hurt had established a
competition to create an office that would satisfy a triangular property. In order to conquer the
space given, Burnham and Root developed a completely triangular design. Such a design was so
unique and liked by Joel that he granted the two the commission (Edge 100), and it was built by
1892 (“Equitable Building”). While the building was destroyed for the sake of a modernistic
movement (“Equitable Building”), such a building was an interesting innovation which was used
all over the U.S. following its creation. One example of imitating their creation is the well known

4. JOB 3
Flatiron building located in New York City. This building was a mirror image, and it was created
a few years later with an additional height bonus in 1902 (“Flatiron Building”). Overall, these
creations put Burnham and Root on the map as accomplished architects. While both Burnham
and Root were well established, two new commissions were up and coming that not only would
change their firm, but the world. Received nearly at the same time, Burnham and Root accepted
commissions to build what are now known to have been some of the first skyscrapers. Deemed
the Masonic Temple building and the Monadock, The Monadock was to be four floors short of
the Masonic temple building’s twenty floors. While this may seem small in the current society
where buildings reach above one thousand feet tall, at this time, these would be deemed the
tallest in the Chicago (“Masonic Temple”). While this seems simple, at the time, steel was not
commonly used in building construction. The reason for the lack of height in these buildings was
directly related to this fact. As explained before, bearing-walls had been used and were less
sturdy. Factually, the Monadock, the first building designed by the two was to be a hybrid
between a load-bearing brick structure, steel, and iron (“Monadock Building”). Used as a testing
ground for Burnham, he applied his teachings from William Jenny who was in fact the founder
of skyscrapers (“William Le Baron Jenney, Father of the American Skyscraper”). Pleased by the
simplicity and effectiveness of the Randy McNally Building, both Burnham and Root moved to
create what was to be known as the tallest skyscraper in Chicago, the Masonic Temple Building
(Larson 66). At the time, the tallest building in Chicago had only reached eighteen stories
(“Masonic Temple”). Comparable to William Jenny’s steel Manhattan Building built in Chicago
by 1891 (“Manhattan Building”), the Masonic Temple Building was immense and the first all
steel structure to reach twenty stories (“Masonic Temple”). As a testament to the effectiveness of

5. JOB 4
steel skeleton construction, while the Monadock required two years by 1891 (“Monadock
Building” (2)), the Masonic only required one ending in 1892 (“Masonic Temple”). Today,
skyscrapers have evolved and reached higher into the sky. While they may seem insignificant,
these steel structures are the very reason why larger and more complicated structures are possible
today.
Although it is not known widely, Burnham and Root were the incredible minds behind
rapidly erecting structures. Upon taking the challenge of what would be deemed the Columbian
Exposition, Burnham and Root had no idea how immense the challenge would be. The U.S. had
set their sights to out-do the Paris Exposition, and they wished to do so on the 400th anniversary
of Columbus’ landing; otherwise known as 1892 (Larson 92). Such a city would be the marvel of
the world which would have to out-perform any event which could possibly arise. Not only was
this a testament of U.S. architecture, it was a testament to how the free market had created a
thriving country. Not only was this fair a means to show off, but too that of wounded pride due
to the success of the Paris Exposition. Sadly, although intentions were good, planning for this
unimaginable event was horrid. Due to extreme indecision on the behalf of the committee
assigned to make decisions, Burnham and Root would only have two years to develop and
execute this plan (Larson 120). In these two years, they would have to populate 600 acres not
only with extremely intricate buildings, but with incredible landscapes and facilities to sustain it
as would a city of the future (Larson 220). While Burnham and Root had massive help with
landscapes and planning, the real genius of the fair was Burnham and how he developed a new
method for constructing buildings. Understanding that there was no time for concrete or stone,
Burnham and Root had to innovate. Unlike now, the mindset was that temporary structures

6. JOB 5
should be built out of conventional material. Breaking from convention, Burnham developed a
wood, plaster, and spray paint system. Simple as it sounds, a crew would erect a skeleton of each
building from wood. Once complete, each skeleton would be cast in plaster. At this time, spray
paint had yet to be invented. Understanding this would be the only effective way, Burnham
devised this method along with Francis Millet in 1892 so hoses could literally spray coatings
over each of the buildings (Larson 189). Not only did this cut costs immensely, but it led to
future building practices still in use today. Undoubtedly this idea revolutionized and cheapened
temporary architecture beyond what it had been.
From skyscrapers to office buildings to expositions, Burnham and Root revolutionized
architecture in vast ways. In improvising to create vast temporary structures rapidly and creating
one of the first steel skeleton structures, both architects opened other’s eyes to new and effective
ways to take architecture to unseen heights. Without question, these architects not only were
incredibly accomplished, but also changed architecture in previously inconceivable ways.

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