Buckingham Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Buckingham Building
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 59-67 E. Van Buren St., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929–30 |
| Architect | Holabird & Root |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000942 |
| Added to NRHP | August 10, 2000 |
The Buckingham Building is a tall, 27-story skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. It is located at 59-67 E. Van Buren Street in the Loop neighborhood. This building opened in 1930 and has always been a place for both shops and offices. Famous architects named Holabird and Root designed it in the cool Art Deco style. The Buckingham Building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 2000.
History of the Buckingham Building
Plans to build the Buckingham Building started in 1929. It was built where an older building, the Athenaeum Building, used to stand. The Athenaeum was a place for education, built in 1886.
Because of the old building, the new one was first called the New Athenaeum. But by 1929, everyone knew it as the Buckingham Building. The office spaces were ready for people to rent in May 1930.
The building's owners told people it was a great place to work. They pointed out its location near Michigan Avenue and how easy it was to get there by different types of transport. They also highlighted the amazing views of Lake Michigan and Grant Park.
Some of the first big companies to rent offices here included the Vacuum Oil Company. There was also the American Railroad Association and the National Hardwood Lumber Association. The first floor of the building was used for shops and restaurants.
In 1931, the Vacuum Oil Company joined with another company. They became the Socony-Vacuum Company. This new, bigger company rented more and more space in the building. By 1940, they even renamed the building the Socony-Vacuum Building. This happened after they signed a ten-year lease for their offices. Later, the building became known simply by its street address. Today, it still has both shops and offices.
Architecture and Design
The Buckingham Building was designed by Holabird and Root, a well-known architecture firm in Chicago. They were known for their work in the Chicago school of design. The building is a great example of the Art Deco style.
The building has a strong frame made of concrete and steel. Its outside walls are covered with brick, granite, and a special type of clay called terra cotta. The front of the building has five sections, separated by tall columns called piers. The three middle sections are covered in dark terra cotta. This makes them stand out and look taller than the lighter piers.
Between the windows on each floor of the central sections, you can see decorative panels called spandrels. These panels have pretty floral patterns. The first three floors of the building are covered in shiny black granite. The shop windows on the ground floor have frames made of aluminum with small, tooth-like decorations called dentils.
Higher up, on the twenty-second floor, there are more decorative chocolate-colored terra cotta panels. These also have a floral design. The twenty-fifth floor has even more terra cotta decorations, featuring a design that looks like a keystone.
See also
In Spanish: Buckingham Building para niños
