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How did the exterior and interior of the Auditorium Building differ in decoration?

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Louis Sullivan Louis Sullivan, detail of an oil painting by Frank A. Werner, 1919; in the collection of the Chicago Historical Society.

The Auditorium Building in Chicago, designed by the firm of Adler and Sullivan, features a distinct contrast between its exterior and interior design:

Exterior: The building’s exterior is characterized by a noble, arcaded profile constructed of granite and limestone. It is notably simple in appearance, featuring very little ornamentation and drawing stylistic inspiration from the Marshall Field Wholesale Store designed by Henry Hobson Richardson.1
Interior: In contrast, the interior is lavishly decorated, showcasing Louis Sullivan’s talent for ornamentation. It features intricate relief work and colored stenciled patterns. The auditorium space itself is particularly opulent, highlighted by gilded plasterwork and numerous electric light bulbs, creating a dazzling, theatrical atmosphere that avoids historical eclecticism.1