A new Chicago building sparks a showdown between preservationists and innovators

Rebuilt on the ashes of a great fire, Chicago is a city famous for its innovative modern architecture. Among its most famous – and radical – architects was the late Bertrand Goldberg. In recent years, one of his boldest works, the former Prentice Women’s Hospital, which opened in 1975, has become a battleground between architecture preservationists and administrators at the prestigious Northwestern University, who want to demolish the building to make way for a state-of-the-art research facility. A balanced examination of two opposing viewpoints, The Absent Column is also a celebration of great architecture and its impact.