Robert Sharoff with William Zbaren and Tim Samuelson

Chicago-based architectural writer and author, he has written for a variety of publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Magazine.

The Wrigley Building: The Making of an Icon. An in-depth look at America’s historic skyscraper and Chicago’s most iconic building.

Robert Sharoff will discuss the captivating story of the spectacular architecture of the century-old Wrigley Building—its design, construction, and enduring significance as one of Chicago’s most emblematic buildings. Through meticulous research and spectacular photography, the book unearths a century’s worth of architectural, social, and business history, shedding light on many aspects of the Wrigley Building for the first time.

The Wrigley represents the high-water mark of Beaux Arts Classicism in the city, a gleaming white palazzo at the head of Chicago’s grandest boulevard, Michigan Avenue. With lavish terra-cotta ornamentation, it was Chicago’s tallest building when it opened in 1921. The book focuses on the intertwined stories of William Wrigley Jr., the larger-than-life founder of the chewing gum empire, and Charles Gerhard Beersman, the relatively unknown architect who, mentored by architect Julia Morgan, brought the building to life.

With stunning new photography alongside archival images, renderings, and original blueprints and drawings, this volume is a must-have for any architecture enthusiast. It unveils a fresh perspective on this architectural marvel as well as a wealth of fascinating social history illuminating the building’s significance as more than just a structural landmark but as a nexus of Chicago’s cultural, social, and business evolution. 

William Zbaren is an award-winning architectural photographer whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Architectural Record, Wall Street Journal, and other publications.  His books include American City: St. Louis Architecture (Images Publishing Group), American City: Detroit Architecture 1845-2005 (Wayne State University Press), Krueck & Sexton: A Study in Light (Distributed Art Publishers), and Lucien Lagrange: The Search for Elegance (Images Publishing Group).

Tim Samuelson is a distinguished Chicago cultural historian known for his decades‑long work documenting and interpreting the city’s architectural and artistic heritage. As Chicago’s first official Cultural Historian, he curated major exhibitions, advised preservation efforts, and became a widely respected authority on the work of Louis Sullivan and the evolution of the city’s built environment. His research, public programs, and archival leadership have made him a central figure in preserving and communicating Chicago’s cultural history.