deconstructing sullivan-designed chicago stock exchange terra cotta entrance arch during building's demolition in 1972

richard nickel images chronicling the systematic deconstruction of adler and sullivan's terra cotta chicago stock exchange entrance arch during the early stages of the building's demolition in 1972. the louis sullivan-designed buff-colored terra cotta arch was the building's primary entrance facing la salle street. the terra cotta sections were carefully labeled and stored until the arch was reconstructed at the art institute in 1975. the buff-colored terra cotta ornament was modeled by kristian schneider and executed by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills. 

images of the freestanding arch - with emphasis placed on sullivan's ornament - are posted below:

further reading:

richard nickel contact sheet images of adler and sullivan's chicago stock exchange building (1894) terra cotta arched entrance and surrounding facade.
the undated images were taken prior to 1964 when brenner-danforth-rockwell (bdr) removed sullivan's original ornamented iron and plate glass transom with a bronze tympanum screen echoing sullivan's "golden door" on the 1893 world's fair transportation building.
nickel nearly blew his stack when he got wind of this alteration and fought like hell to stop it.

courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.