Soldier Field

by Jay Pridmore, Douglas Reid Fogelson (Photographer)

A Chicago lakefront landmark, Soldier Field (then Grant Park Stadium) was completed in 1924 and renamed a year later in honor of the solders killed in World War I. Designed by Holabird and Roche, the stadium featured Greek columns and a capacity of 120,000. The Chicago Bears came to Soldier Field in 1971, seeking bigger quarters. They agitated for, and got, a beautiful renovation with luxurious skyboxes, premium club seats, steel-frame design, and transparent glass walls. Conceived by Wood + Zapata, the modernized Soldier Field now provides unequaled sightlines and dynamic geometrical shapes. A memorial wall at the north entrance and a restored Doughboy statue inside the south end continue the tribute to fallen heroes. Soldier Field is a welcome addition to Pomegranate's Building Book series, which includes Marshall Field's, The Reliance Building, Sears Tower, The Rookery, The Merchandise Mart, and The Auditorium Building, all by Jay Pridmore.

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005