Consumers Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Consumers Building |
|
|---|---|
_2.jpg) |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Chicago School |
| Location | 220 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°52′44.3″N 87°37′41.1″W / 41.878972°N 87.628083°W |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Height | 291 feet (89 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 21 |
| Floor area | 176,000 sq ft (16,400 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Jenney, Mundie & Jensen |
The Consumers Building is a tall office building located in downtown Chicago, in an area known as the Loop. It was designed by the architects Jenney, Mundie & Jensen and completed in 1913. Today, the building is owned by the General Services Administration, which is a part of the United States government. It is currently empty.
Contents
History of the Consumers Building
Early Days and First Tenants
When the Consumers Building first opened in 1913, many different businesses moved in. The Consumers Company, which the building is named after, used the top two floors. A men's clothing store called the Hilton Company had a shop on the ground floor.
Other early tenants included the Remington Typewriter Company. Several film companies also had offices there, like Mutual, Paramount, Pathé, and Universal. A large electric sign on the roof advertised the Consumers Company. There was even a fancy restaurant called the Winter Garden in the basement.
Businesses in the 1920s and 1930s
In the 1920s, the building continued to be a busy place. An organization for movie and vaudeville theater owners, called the Allied Amusements Association, had offices on the 13th floor. Other well-known companies like Carnation Milk and the Pullman Company also had offices there.
In 1931, a men's clothing store named Benson & Rixon opened on the ground floor. A few years later, in 1936, another clothing store called Howard Clothes took its place. Howard Clothes stayed in the Consumers Building for many years, even into the 1970s.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the ownership of the Consumers Building changed hands several times. In 1931, the building was transferred to the son-in-law of the original builder, Jacob L. Kesner. Later, in 1947, the building was sold for $2 million to a company called the 220 S. State St. Corporation.
In 1948, a government agency called the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service moved its offices into the building. The College of Jewish Studies also had a home there in the 1940s. In 1960, a group of investors from Chicago bought the building.
Recent History and Future Plans
In 2005, the General Services Administration (GSA), a U.S. government agency, bought the Consumers Building. They also bought other buildings nearby. The GSA needed more security around the Dirksen Federal Building, which is close by.
Because of its history and unique design, the Consumers Building was listed as one of Chicago's most endangered buildings in 2011 and 2013 by a group called Preservation Chicago.
In 2017, a company called CA Ventures made a deal to buy the Consumers Building and the nearby Century Building. The plan was to turn these old office buildings into apartments. They also wanted to restore a historic storefront and build a new structure between the taller buildings for shops and businesses. However, the City of Chicago decided not to go through with the deal in 2019. This was due to security concerns related to the nearby federal courthouse.
