John Wellborn Root

Born: January 10th 1850 in Lumpkin, Georgia

Died: January 15th 1891 in Chicago, Illinois

John Wellborn Root was a very famous American architect who worked with
Daniel Burnham. As the son of Sidney Root he lived in Atlanta until Atlanta
fell during the American Civil War. He then moved to Liverpool, England.
John Root studied at Clare Mount School and Oxford University for some
time until he came back to the United States to receive his college degree at
New York University in 1869. In New York he got a job for John Butler
Snook as a construction supervisor for the still famous New York City’s
Grand Central Station. After his construction supervisor job with J.B. Snook
he established the Burnham and Root firm. Daniel Burnham and John Root
worked together for 18 years until John Root’s death in 1891. As for the
building of the Monadnock Building on 53 W. Jackson Boulevard in
Chicago, Illinois which was known as 1893’s world’s largest office building,
John Root was planning the World’s Columbian Expedition which he never
completed due to his death caused by pneumonia in 1891. John Wellborn
Root built the Grannis Block in 1880, Montuak Building in 1882-1883,
Rookery Building in 1885, Phoenix Building in 1887, and the Reliance
Building ground floor in 1889 as for the Monadnock Building.

Built Buildings:

Grannis Block in 1880

Montauk Building in 1882- 1883
Rookery Building in 1885
Phoenix Building in 1887
Lake View Presbyterian Church in 1888
Monadnock Building in 1889
Reliance Building ground floor in 1889