FREE Chicago Neighborhoods Map
Framable 32" x 20" wall poster of Chicago's 181 neighborhoods with coordinates & street names Shows CTA trains, expressways and major avenues.
FREE Chicago Buyer's Guide
64 pages of buyer's tips, negotiation strategies, home inspection checklist, closing cost worksheet, 9 steps to home buying success and much more!Prominent Office Buildings In The City Of Chicago
Here is a list of some of the more prominent office buildings that reside in the city of Chicago. These buildings are home to multiple corporations and businesses. Many companies have their headquarters located in Chicago. This city was founded as a commercial city. Although much has changed over the years, this aspect of Chicago hasn't. Over the years, Chicago's reputation as a center of business has grown. There always seem to be new businesses moving in to the city. Many of the more run down areas of the city are recently undergoing commercial and residential revitalization. This has stimulated the economy and lured investors into the city. Minus, certain sections of the city, as a whole the city is economically thriving. From corporate powerhouses to upstart boutiques, Chicago is home to a wide and successful range of business ventures.
In addition to being centers of commerce, many of these buildings are architecturally significant. So even if you don't have to conduct business in on of the buildings, it might still be worth it to give them a look. There are many different architectural styles contained within the city of Chicago. The history of the city is written on the walls of these buildings. The skyline is an impressive sight, indeed. Some of the tallest buildings in the country are in Chicago. The Sears Tower claims the tallest top floor of any building on the planet. Some buildings, like the Sears Tower, have observation decks that look out over the entire city. On a clear day, you can see the entire expanse of the city.
This is not a complete list of all the office building in Chicago, but some of the more notable ones.
AT&T Corporate Center - 227 West Monroe |
The Chicago Board of Trade - 141 West Jackson |
The Chicago Board of Trade has long been the city's financial hub and a symbol of Chicago's economic stability. Since its start in 1848, the company has grown from a group of 83 local merchants the world's largest exchange. All the action happens at the Chicago Board of Trade Building, located downtown in one of the city's most architecturally significant representations of the art deco genre. Originally designed by famed architects, Holabird & Root, the towering structure sits where LaSalle Street dead-ends at Jackson Boulevard, giving the building an unusually dramatic front approach with an unobstructed view of the historic skyscraper from blocks away. The building is also distinctive for its massive art deco-style statue of the Roman goddess of agriculture that sits atop the main section-a tribute to the establishment's bread and butter trading group. Visitors are welcome to stop by the Visitor Center during regular trading hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm) to experience the high-energy environment and exciting routine of Chicago's successful stock market analysts and traders. The innovation of electronic transactions, automated data tabulation and online resources has changed the face of the trading floor, but the enthusiastic vigor and nonstop activity remain an undying component of the industry's foundation. In July of 2007, the successful merger of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange was finalized. The collaboration produced the most expansive and diverse trade corporation on the planet-pretty impressive for a company that starting by wheeling and dealing in bushels of corn. |
Chicago Cultural Center - 78 East Washington |
City Hall - 121 North La Salle |
Daley Center - Randolph & Clark |
Dearborn Station - 47 West Polk |
Dirksen Federal Building - 219 South Dearborn |
Federal Reserve Bank - 401 North Michigan |
IBM Plaza - 303 North Wabash |
John Hancock Center - 875 North Michigan |
Lake Point Tower - 600 East Grand |
Merchandise Mart - 250 W. Bank of Chicago |
The Chicago Merchandise Mart is the city's center for wholesale showrooms in home décor and apparel. The majority of the sprawling downtown complex is used for trade shows and display areas with a concentration on interior design, furnishings, gardening, kitchen and bath remodeling, and other home improvements services. In between expositions on how to fix up your house or condo, the Mart (as Chicago locals like to call it) hosts bridal, charity, antique, art and handcraft events. While much of the business conducted in Chicago's Merchandise Mart is wholesale, the site also houses a number of retail stores where consumers can shop in a mall-like atmosphere, complete with a substantial food court. It is hard to convey just how large the Chicago Merchandise Mart is, but perhaps the fact that it has its own CTA train stop and zip code will give you a good idea of the immense size of this facility. The massive stone and concrete building occupies two square city blocks in the River North neighborhood and encompasses four million square feet of floor space. The Brown Line elevated train stops directly in front of the Chicago Merchandise Mart (you can't miss it because the station is of the same name), which makes this a convenient locale to do a quick errand or grab a bite on the go. Handy services such as a post office, FedEx, dry cleaners, a florist, Hallmark, one-hour photo development, currency exchange, a bank and even a beauty salon cover all the major needs while the dining options are sure to satisfy any craving, anytime of day, with everything from Au Bon Pain to the Billy Goat Tavern & Grill. Situated along the Chicago River on the northern cusp of the downtown Loop, the Mart was a notable architectural feat when it was built in 1930 and remains a remarkable example of Chicago's art deco style of construction. |
North Pier - 435 East Illinois |
Main Post Office - 433 West Harrison |
Prudential - 160 East Randolph |
Sears Tower - 233 South Wacker Undoubtedly the most recognized building in Chicago's skyline, the Sears Tower is the tallest structure in the city and houses the loftiest observatory in the entire country. Drawing about 1.3 million visitors each year to its 103rd-floor Skydeck, this prominent Chicago landmark attracts tourists, architecture enthusiasts and local residents with its remarkable views, intriguing exhibits and high-powered telescopes. It's said that on a clear day four different states are visible from the observatory-Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan-and the 360-degree panorama of downtown is always breathtaking. But try to avoid going on an overcast day as the Skydeck is so high up it is often above the cloud cover, which can really obstruct your sightline. Although the Skydeck observatory is a notable stop for sightseers, the rest of the Sears Tower provides almost four million square feet of office and retail space where thousands of workers are employed. Situated in the bustling business district of the Chicago Loop, the Sears Tower is convenient for commuters with public transportation, Union Station and the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) all within a couple blocks. First opened in 1973, the 110-story skyscraper was known as the world's tallest building for many years until the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia took the title in the late 1990s. Soon, the Sears Tower will also loose its standing as the tallest structure in Chicago (and the U.S.) as the 150-floor Chicago Spire will soar 275 feet over the tips of the tower's antennae when it is completed in 2009. The Sears Tower Skydeck is open to visitors everyday-even holidays. Take a trip 1,350 feet in the air for the ultimate bird's eye view of Chicago any time you want. The scene changes with each season and the cityscape continually evolves with new high-rise constructions, so even if you've been before this is one sightseeing site that never gets old. |
State of Illinois Center - 100 West Randolph |
Tribune Tower - 435 North Michigan |
Water Tower Place - 845 North Michigan |
