Chicago Stock Exchange Building: Two Elevator Enclosure Grilles, with Base Plates and Side Support Bars 1893 - 1894

These elevator enclosure grilles, with base plates and side support bars, were designed by Adler & Sullivan for the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, sometime between 1883 and 1895. These grilles evoke a sense of both enclosure and openness, which might mirror the complex dance between public and private that plays out within the stock exchange. The geometric patterns suggest a kind of rational order, yet there is also an almost organic, floral quality to the design, hinting at the unpredictable nature of the market itself. These grilles raise questions about who has access and who is excluded, both literally, in terms of physical access to the elevators, and metaphorically, in terms of the economic opportunities represented by the Stock Exchange. It would be interesting to know how gender and race played into those dynamics. How might the experience of moving through this space have differed depending on one's identity? They serve as a poignant reminder of the stories embedded in architecture, prompting us to consider the social and cultural values that are literally built into the structures we inhabit.