Who designed Tribune Tower?

Architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood designed the neo-Gothic skyscraper following an international architectural competition.

Can the public tour the interior of Tribune Tower?

Public interior touring has taken place during the annual Open House Chicago event organized by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Outside of designated events, the residential spaces remain closed to the public.

Does the Chicago Tribune newspaper still occupy the tower?

The Chicago Tribune vacated the building to allow the structure to be converted into residential apartments.

Where are the architectural competition records preserved?

Competition records and historical drawings are preserved in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Is the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum still open inside the building?

The museum closed its physical location inside the tower and transitioned into an online museum.

Chicago · United States

Tribune Tower: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents step directly into sidewalk crowds along North Michigan Avenue each morning, trading quiet residential seclusion for life inside a converted landmark tower.

Tribune Tower · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map of places

Around here30

Exchange rate$1.00per 1 $USD — the local currencyas of Nov 2, 2026

About the place

A Gothic skyscraper marks the entrance to North Michigan Avenue with carved limestone, soaring flying buttresses, and architectural relics.

The skyscraper originated from an international competition hosted by the Chicago Tribune to build a distinctive corporate headquarters. Architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood won the commission with a neo-Gothic design featuring prominent crown buttresses. A rival entry by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen finished behind them but deeply shaped later American high-rise design, including Rockefeller Center.

Read on

The newspaper eventually vacated the premises to allow a comprehensive conversion into private residential condominiums. This redevelopment earned a Driehaus Prize from Landmarks Illinois for historic preservation and adaptive reuse. While the tower now houses permanent residents, the annual Open House Chicago program opens the interior spaces to public architecture tours without admission fees.

Associations

Neo-Gothic ArchitectureJohn Mead Howells and Raymond Hood designed the crown with ornate flying buttresses.
Eliel SaarinenHis runner-up competition design inspired the form of subsequent American towers.
Condominium ConversionResidential redevelopment converted historic offices into luxury private apartments.
Sidewalk CrowdsIntense pedestrian traffic and tour groups cluster continuously around the entry.

Facts

Landmarks Illinois granted the building a Driehaus Prize for architectural preservation following its residential adaptive reuse.
Architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood won the international competition for the newspaper headquarters with their neo-Gothic design.
The annual Open House Chicago program allows members of the public to tour the tower interior without paying admission.
Eliel Saarinen created a competing design that directly influenced the styling of Rockefeller Center.

Updated September 9, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Tribune Tower: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around30

A Gothic skyscraper marks the entrance to North Michigan Avenue with carved limestone, soaring flying buttresses, and architectural relics.

Getting there and staying

Google reviews

Similar nearby