How did Henry Hobson Richardson influence the Auditorium Building’s exterior design?

The exterior design of the Auditorium Building in Chicago, completed in 1889, was significantly influenced by the work of Henry Hobson Richardson.1

Specifically, the building's noble, arcaded exterior—characterized by a simple profile and minimal ornamentation—owes much to Richardson’s design for the Marshall Field Wholesale Store, which had been recently completed in Chicago at the time the Auditorium was being planned. While Louis Sullivan is celebrated for his own talent in creating lavish, original interior ornamentation, the exterior of the Auditorium Building reflects the architectural impact of Richardson’s Romanesque-inspired style, which emphasized simple silhouettes and large-scale details.12