Cultural Center Dome
The Chicago Cultural Center's interior has an incredible array of beautiful architectural
details including mosaics, coffered ceilings, decorative ironwork, and massive windows.
Preston Bradley Hall once served as the former library's reading room and houses the world's largest Tiffany Dome. Valued at over $35 million, this dome contains more than 30,000 individual pieces of glass.
Prominent among the marks are four medallions on the walls beneath the dome. One (CPL) is a Chicago Public Library logo and it contains a “Y” representing the Chicago River and its two branches. The other three are marks of 16th century French printers: One includes intertwined serpents and the initials of Jean Louis of Paris; a second shows a pair of mermaids and the initials “RG” for Raulin Gautier of Rouen; and the third depicts a chandelier for Pierre de Chandelier of Caen. This also includes a Latin inscription roughly translated as “ I faithfully serve the cause of enlightenment.”
Cultural Center Dome
The Chicago Cultural Center's interior has an incredible array of beautiful architectural
details including mosaics, coffered ceilings, decorative ironwork, and massive windows.
Preston Bradley Hall once served as the former library's reading room and houses the world's largest Tiffany Dome. Valued at over $35 million, this dome contains more than 30,000 individual pieces of glass.
Prominent among the marks are four medallions on the walls beneath the dome. One (CPL) is a Chicago Public Library logo and it contains a “Y” representing the Chicago River and its two branches. The other three are marks of 16th century French printers: One includes intertwined serpents and the initials of Jean Louis of Paris; a second shows a pair of mermaids and the initials “RG” for Raulin Gautier of Rouen; and the third depicts a chandelier for Pierre de Chandelier of Caen. This also includes a Latin inscription roughly translated as “ I faithfully serve the cause of enlightenment.”