The Spruce Tree Center was a mega-project of its day, an anchor store partly subsidized by city dollars coming in the form of increased road access and a 337-space parking ramp adjoining the building.

Though it only had the distinction of being the world’s tallest building for 11 months, the Chrysler Building has remained one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the world.

"The Wrigley Building is a cultural asset and I'm its steward. This is about preserving a cultural icon for future generations," Manseuto writes in the book.

As contractors braved the bitter cold Wednesday and started demolishing parts of the Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha building, Carole Zawatsky grew nostalgic. The head of a nonprofit working to rebuild ...