Chicago Architecture Walking Tour - Downtown

From Prescott Carlson, former About.com Guide

Across the street from the Carson's Building on the sorthwest corner of State and Washington is the Reliance Building, a National Historic Landmark. Designed by Charles Atwood, an architect at Daniel Burnham's firm, it's known has as the first skyscraper to be built to have glass as the main part of its facade, which of course is common practice today. Completed in 1895, it's an early example of the "Chicago school" of design. The building currently houses the Hotel Burnham and the Cafe Atwood, obvious nods to the Reliance Building's architectural history.