Phenix Building (Chicago) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phenix Building |
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The Phenix Building as built, 1887
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| General information | |
| Status | demolished (1957) |
| Type | high-rise office |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Location | 138 (now 111 W.) Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°52′41″N 87°37′53″W / 41.8780°N 87.6314°W |
| Construction started | 1886 |
| Completed | 1887 |
| Demolished | 1957 |
| Owner | The Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company (as built) |
| Height | |
| Tip | about 151 feet |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 11 (as built) +2 added in 1892 |
| Floor area | about 125,000 |
| Lifts/elevators | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Burnham and Root |
The Phenix Building was a very important office building in Chicago. It was designed by the famous architecture firm Burnham and Root. The building was completed in 1887. It was built by the Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company from Brooklyn, New York.
The Phenix Building was located on Jackson Boulevard. When it was new, people called it "the latest addition to Chicago's magnificent architectural structures." Later, the Western Union Telegraph Company owned it. In 1922, Frederick C. Austin bought the building. He was a manufacturer and a kind person who gave money to good causes.
In 1929, Austin gave the building to Northwestern University. He wanted the money from the building to help pay for scholarships. These scholarships would help students become business leaders. The Phenix Building was torn down in 1957. Today, the TransUnion Building stands in its place.
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What Made the Phenix Building Special?
The Phenix Building was quite large for its time. It was 215 feet long on Jackson Boulevard. But it was only 50 feet deep. The building cost $1 million to build. The land it stood on cost another $400,000.
Design and Materials
The building had a strong steel frame. This made it "absolutely fireproof," which was a big deal back then. The bottom part of the outside was made of Vert Island Stone from Ontario, Canada. The upper floors were covered with red terra cotta and special bricks from St. Louis.
Inside, the lobby was very fancy. The walls and stairs were made of white marble. The hallways throughout the building also used white marble. The wood in the offices was beautiful Cuban mahogany. The building had windows on all four sides, letting in lots of light.
People at the time were very impressed with the inside of the Phenix Building. It was seen as a new standard for office buildings. One writer said it showed how "art will find a place where before rough walls and plain finish were considered all that was necessary." This meant it was much nicer than typical office spaces.
Building Height Changes
When it was first built, the Phenix Building had eleven stories above the ground. In 1892, the Western Union Telegraph Company bought the building. They added two more floors, making it even taller.
Who Used the Phenix Building?
The Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company used the top two floors. This was their main office for the Southern and Western parts of the country. They rented out the rest of the office space.
Important Tenants
The building was very close to many train stations in Chicago. Because of this, many companies related to railways had offices there. This included manufacturers who made railway parts and suppliers. Several passenger and freight railway companies also had their offices in the Phenix Building.
In 1892, the Western Union Telegraph Co. bought the building. They paid $1.5 million for it. This was the highest price ever paid for a downtown building at that time. Western Union used it as their main headquarters.
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