1927 - 29 Chicago Stadium Architectural Prints
the Vintage Map Shop, Inc.
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By: Hall, Lawrence, & Ratcliffe Inc.
Date of Originals: 1927-1929 (dated) Chicago, IL
Original Size: 41 x 54 inches (104 x 137 cm)
These are fine print reproductions of a one-of-a-kind archive of thirteen original architectural prints drawn from the construction plans of Chicago Stadium, produced by the Chicago firm Hall, Lawrence & Ratcliffe, Inc. Intended for contractors and work crews, the prints record the stadium’s structure in exceptional technical detail.
Completed in 1929–1930 on West Madison Street, Chicago Stadium became one of the city’s most important sporting and cultural venues. It is best known as the longtime home of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, hosting legends from Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita to Michael Jordan, who won three championships there before the teams moved to the United Center. The arena also staged boxing, wrestling, political conventions, concerts, and the first indoor professional football game in 1932, when the Chicago Bears played on a shortened dirt field.
The stadium was financed by Patrick H. “Paddy” Harmon, whose goal was to rival Madison Square Garden. Despite repeated financial strain and the onset of the Great Depression, construction was completed in just six months. Partnerships with James E. Norris and Arthur Wirtz later stabilized operations, keeping the venue active year-round. Designed without luxury seating and priced for accessibility, the stadium earned a reputation as a truly democratic space.
Architecturally, Chicago Stadium combined Art Deco and Neoclassical elements with advanced engineering. While often attributed to Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, this archive documents the substantial role of Hall, Lawrence & Ratcliffe, led by Eric Edwin Hall, former Cook County Architect. The plans reveal the horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, extensive steel trusses, innovative ventilation and cooling systems, and accommodations for the massive Barton organ that helped earn the arena its “Madhouse on Madison” nickname.
Together, the prints document the building from basement to roof, including seating tiers, mechanical rooms, stairways, cross-sections, and exterior sculptural reliefs of athletes and classical figures. As a complete visual and technical record, the archive preserves the design, ambition, and cultural significance of one of Chicago’s most iconic buildings.
NOTE: These architectural plans contain areas of small writing that may become difficult to read in the smaller sizes.
Inventory #12756