One of the things to consider when wanting to invest in Chicago condos for sale is the architecture. Over its history, the city of Chicago has had a storied and diverse history of architecture, reflected not only in modern Chicago condos for sale, but in skyscrapers and in other buildings. Chicago condos for sale that are buildings with great historical and architectural value have better than average selling points. In fact, such Chicago condos for sale have vast value beyond just being living space.

The many styles of Chicago architecture, seen in Chicago condos for sale and other buildings such as skyscrapers Chicago lofts and apartments, are famous and appreciated throughout the world. Many condos from other parts of the world and other buildings such as lofts, apartments, and more are influenced by Chicago condos for sale, Chicago lofts, apartment, and other Chicago real estate property.

A particularly noted style of Chicago architecture is the Chicago School, sometimes also called "Commercial Style." Though it first began to develop amongst a school of architects in turn of the 20th century Chicago, it is still seen in many Chicago condos for sale, high rises, skyscrapers, loop condos, Chicago apartments, and other Chicago homes and buildings.

This school of architectural thought developed new technologies of steel-frame construction in commercial buildings and a new spatial aesthetic that rivaled the European modernism movement in architecture at the time.

The term "Chicago School" generally describes buildings in the city of Chicago and many of the buildings, Chicago condos for sale, and Chicago real estate properties to come after that were developed and influenced during the late 1880s, though there was no unified sort of school. The Chicago School employed a variety of different styles and techniques and could not be classified as a single set of aesthetics. The term "Commercial Style" is used when also considering the architectural developments and influences happening in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and other cities.

Several features do, however, distinguish the Chicago School (or Commercial Style), which are still seen in many Chicago condos for sale, Chicago lofts, apartments, skyscrapers, and other buildings. One is the use of steel-frame buildings with masonry cladding. This allowed large plate-glass windows areas and limited usage of exterior ornament. Neoclassical elements also appeared in the Chicago School's styles. Many skyscrapers (or even modern high-rise Chicago condos for sale) are built in the shape of a classical column.

Also notable is the "Chicago window." This three-part window consisted of a large fixed center panel that two smaller double-hung sash windows flanked. The window arrangement created a grid pattern that occasionally projected out to from the façade to form bay windows. This particular window combined light-gathering and natural ventilation.

Several important architects in the Chicago School, without whom modern Chicago condos for sale, skyscrapers, and all Chicago real estate would be found lacking, include Daniel Burnham, John Root, Henry Hobson Richardson, Dankmar Adler, Louis Sullivan, and more. Notable Chicago School buildings include the Home Insurance Building (regarded as the world's first skyscraper), the Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company Building, the Gage Group Buildings, and more.