John Ronan giving our class a tour of his Poetry Foundation Building. 

The Poetry Foundation by John Ronan, located at 61 West Superior Street, is easily one of the finest buildings constructed within Chicago within the last ten years. The result is a simple black box that offers a place to contemplate within. It carries a limited material palate but the choices have been clever. If you examine the building closer you’ll begin to realize that craftsmanship is still present in the profession. The detailing in and around the building are a joy to look. A move that I have never seen before is the slight gap between the existing sidewalk and the area around the entire project site. Overall, the project asks for attention but without begging. It is simply proud of what it is and what it is protecting within. Nicely done.