Mies van der Rohe landmarks highlighted on IIT campus tour

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, inspires the most prominent architects of our time. His influence can be seen in skylines throughout the world, but most of all in Chicago, home to many of Mies' most renowned works: The twin apartment buildings at 860-880 N. Lake Shore Drive, the Federal Center and 330 N. Wabash in Chicago proper, plus the Farnsworth House in Plano and McCormick House in Elmhurst.  

One of the largest and most varied collections of Mies buildings in the world is on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology on Chicago's south side where he chaired the College of Architecture from 1938-1958. Mies not only designed more than 17 buildings for the campus, but developed the master plan, the layout of the whole campus. IIT campus was named “one of the 200 most significant works of architecture in the United States” by the American Institute of Architects. The campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

For architecture enthusiasts and the interested public, IIT's Mies van der Rohe Society offers year-round self-guided and docent-led tours of the campus. The 90-minute tours includes the iconic S.R. Crown Hall, Carr Chapel, the only ecumenical building by Mies, and several of Mies’ famed design details such as floating staircases and exposed corners. The tours also explore IIT’s newest architectural treasures--the Rem Koolhaas-designed McCormick Tribune Campus Center and the State Street Village dorms by IIT alum Helmut Jahn.

Tours are offered daily, except major holidays, and cost $5 for either the self-guided iPod or docent-led tour.  The self-guided tours are available 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. Docent-led tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Reservations for both tours are welcome, but not required. For reservations or information regarding group tours, call 312-567-5014 or email tours@iit.edu. All tours leave from the McCormick Tribune Campus Center, 3201 S. State Street, Chicago.