400 East Randolph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Outer Drive East |
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential condos |
| Location | 400 E Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°53′5.29″N 87°36′59.4″W / 41.8848028°N 87.616500°W |
| Completed | 1963 |
| Management | The Habitat Company |
| Height | |
| Roof | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 40 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Reinheimer & Associates |
The 400 East Randolph Street Condominiums, often called 400 East Randolph, is a tall building in Chicago, Illinois. It used to be known as Outer Drive East. This 40-story building was designed by Reinheimer & Associates.
Most of the building is made up of homes called condominiums. A condominium is like an apartment, but you own it instead of renting it. There are also a few shops and restaurants inside the building. It is located on East Randolph Street in an area called the New Eastside. The building sits between two other buildings, the Buckingham and Harbor Point. Two parks, Millennium Park and Lakeshore East Park, are very close by. This building was built before many of the newer buildings in the Lakeshore East area.
Building a Downtown Home
The idea for 400 East Randolph came from a developer named Jerrold Wexler. He thought the area near the lakefront would be perfect for young people working in offices. These people wanted to live close to their jobs.
In 1957, Mr. Wexler faced some challenges getting the land. But Chicago's Mayor, Richard J. Daley, wanted to help. He was worried that people were moving out of the city. So, he supported the project. The city worked to get the necessary laws passed. They also settled disagreements with the Illinois Central Railroad, which owned the land. The city even extended Randolph Drive into the lake area to make the building possible.
The building was finished in 1962. It was one of the biggest apartment buildings in the world outside of New York City. It had over 900 homes, mostly with one or two bedrooms.
Life at 400 East Randolph
When it first opened, 400 East Randolph offered many cool features. It had indoor parking for cars. There was also a swimming pool and exercise areas. Residents could enjoy a restaurant and a small grocery store right inside the building.
When it opened, a newspaper called The Chicago Sun-Times said that new apartment towers like this one "caught the city by surprise." Living so close to the Loop meant people could walk to work. They could also walk to big department stores and theaters.
In 1963, 400 East Randolph became the first major apartment building in this part of downtown Chicago. It helped start a trend of people wanting to live downtown. Now, it is surrounded by many other nice apartment and condominium buildings.
In 1973, the building changed from apartments to condominiums. This meant people could buy their homes instead of just renting them. Today, the building still has some businesses. These include the Lakefront Children's Academy and a company that rents Segways.
Spotting it in the Skyline
400 East Randolph (also known as Outer Drive East) is a noticeable part of Chicago's skyline. In the diagram below, you can see it in front of other famous buildings. These include Olympia Centre, 900 North Michigan, John Hancock Center, and Water Tower Place.
