30 Nov adler and sullivan’s rosenfeld building as it appeared in 1959 shortly before and during its demolition
richard nickel images of adler and sullivan’s levi rosenfeld building undergoing demolition in 1958. with the help of the wreckers (i believe speedway wrecked the building), nickel managed to salvage some of the terra cotta ornament, including the panel being lowered from the building 1958 during its demolition.
the levi rosenfeld building was designed by the architectural firm of adler and sullivan. the mixed-use masonry building was built in two phases, with the first being a three story section completed in 1881 at a cost of $42,850. the second phase, consisting of a five-story section with stores, flats, and a hotel, was built the following year, costing $ 92,091.
the facade was heavily ornamented with sullivan-designed red slip terra cotta (e.g., cornice and window lunettes). the street level storefronts, featured oversized plate glass windows, divided by cast iron rounded and flat pilasters accentuated with simple and restrained floral assemblages comprised of individually cast sections fastened against recessed panels.
cast iron ornament and terra cotta courtesy of bldg. 51 collection. images courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.
additional images including seldom seen interior images and nickel self-portrait on roof.
