Holabird & Root was the successor to the Chicago architecture firm Holabird & Roche. It was formed after the original namesakes died in the 1920s.
The firm is named for John Augur Holabird (the son of Holabird & Roche founder William Holabird) and John Wellborn Root, Jr. (the son of Daniel Burnham’s partner, John Wellborn Root). The two Chicago scions met when they studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Holabird & Root made a name for itself early in the 20th century with its art deco-style structures, including the Chicago Board of Trade. The firm also worked with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe on his IIT buildings and, later, specialized in highly technical structures. Holabird & Root continues today, with offices in the Marquette Building.
