The name of the building is an allusion to the temporary City Hall building that occupied the land before The Rookery . That building was nicknamed the '' rookery '' not only in reference to the crows and pigeons that flocked to its exterior , but also because of the alleged shady politicians it housed ( given the rook 's perceived reputation for acquisitiveness ) . After the Great Chicago Fire a quickly constructed building was used as an interim City Hall at this location ( LaSalle and Adams ) built around a large water tank that had survived the fire . However , pigeons became such a nuisance that a complaining citizen began referring to the building as " a rookery " , a term the press quickly adopted . Although several names were considered when a new structure on the site was proposed , " the Rookery " won out
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Rookery Building