Pittsfield Building

Pittsfield Building
The Pittsfield Building as seen from the northeast
General information
Type Office
Location 55 E. Washington St.
Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates 41°52′59″N 87°37′33″W / 41.8830°N 87.6257°W / 41.8830; -87.6257Coordinates: 41°52′59″N 87°37′33″W / 41.8830°N 87.6257°W / 41.8830; -87.6257
Completed 1927
Height
Roof 551 ft (168 m)
Technical details
Floor count 38
Design and construction
Architect Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
Designated November 6, 2002

The Pittsfield Building, is a 38-story skyscraper located at 55 E. Washington Street in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States, that was the city's tallest building at the time of its completion.[1][2] The building was designated as a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002.[1]

History

The property, in the Jewelers' Row Landmark District, was developed by heirs of Marshall Field, and is named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where Marshall Field obtained his first job.[3] The nearby Burnham Center, at the intersection of Clark Street and Washington Street, was originally named the Conway Building after Conway, Massachusetts—the birthplace of Marshall Field.[4] Marshall Field III presented the property as a gift to the Field Museum of Natural History in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary. The museum held the property until September 1960 when the museum sold it.[3]

Architecture

Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, the structure combines both art deco and Gothic detailing, while complying with a 1923 zoning ordinance which mandated skyscrapers setbacks.[3] The interior of the building features a five-story atrium, lined by balconies and shops, that is detailed with glowing marbles, gleaming brass and Spanish Gothic style carvings.[1][2]

Today

Alter Group, a Skokie, Illinois-based real estate developer has acquired the thirteenth through twenty-first floors of the building with plans for dormitory conversion at a cost of $23 million (about $173 per square foot). It will finance the $45-million renovation costs with a $36-million loan from First bank and has entered lease agreements with Roosevelt University and Robert Morris University (Illinois) for 350 of the planned 450 beds. Morgan Reed Group who acquired the entire building for $15 million in 2000 continues to own the remaining portions of the building. The building is used mostly by doctors, dentists and jewelers and students will have a separate entry under the plans.[5]

Position in Chicago's skyline

311 South WackerWillis TowerChicago Board of Trade Building111 South WackerAT&T Corporate CenterKluczynski Federal BuildingCNA CenterChase TowerThree First National PlazaMid-Continental PlazaRichard J. Daley CenterChicago Title and Trust Center77 West WackerPittsfield BuildingLeo Burnett BuildingThe Heritage at Millennium ParkCrain Communications BuildingIBM PlazaOne Prudential PlazaTwo Prudential PlazaAon CenterBlue Cross and Blue Shield Tower340 on the ParkPark TowerOlympia Centre900 North MichiganJohn Hancock CenterWater Tower PlaceHarbor PointThe ParkshoreNorth Pier ApartmentsLake Point TowerJay Pritzker PavilionBuckingham FountainLake MichiganLake MichiganLake MichiganThe skyline of a city with many large skyscrapers; in the foreground are a green park and a lake with many sailboats moored on it. Over 30 of the skyscrapers and some park features are labeled.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Pittsfield Building". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  2. 1 2 Kamin, Blair (February 28, 2006). "The list gets longer on shortcuts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Pittsfield Building". Emporis. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  4. ↑ "Burnham Center". Emporis. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  5. ↑ Gallun, Alby, "Pittsfield to get college dormitory," Crain's Chicago Business, p. 16, January 28, 2008.
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