Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Building—all dressed up for the Holidays. The Charles Beersman designed beauty has been lighting up the city’s skyline since 1921, save for three periods when the lights were dimmed—during World War II; in 1971 when new lights were installed; and 1973-74 during the energy crisis.
Commissioned by William Wrigley, Jr., in 1920, for his chewing gum company, his directive was clear—he wanted his company headquarters to be impressive. Beersman surely must have exceeded his expectations. He combined two architectural concepts to create a terracotta-clad masterpiece. The ornamental design of the building is an adaptation of French Renaissance style and the building itself is patterned after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. The end result of Beersman’s vision was nothing less than spectacular. The Wrigley Building remains today one of Chicago’s most magnificent works of art, welcoming people from all over the world to the splendor of Michigan Avenue and its bustling business district.
