Intercontinental Hotel, Chicago

The Chicago Intercontinental Hotel at 505 North Michigan Avenue was built in 1929 but back then it was the Medinah Athletic Club, designed by Walter W Ahlschlager for the Shrine Organisation.

It became a hotel towards the end of WWII when in the mid 1930s the Shrine Organisation were not been able to keep the building due to the affects of the 1929 Stock Market crash and it was used for various purposes during the intervening years.

The external decoration includes this Assyrian inspired frieze and a group of three warriors several floors above it.

Commonwealth Edison Substation, Chicago

This amazing relief is on the front of the Commonwealth Edison Electricity Substation in Chicago. The substation was designed by Holabird and Root in 1931.

The relief shows a male figure staddling a city while he directs a pair of lightning bolts to provide power to the buildings below.