Plaza on DeWitt facts for kids

The Plaza on DeWitt is a tall apartment building in Chicago, Illinois. It was finished in 1966. You can find it at 260 E. Chestnut Street in the Streeterville neighborhood.

This building was first known as the DeWitt-Chestnut Apartment Building. It was designed by an amazing engineer named Fazlur Rahman Khan. He worked for a company called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

The Plaza on DeWitt is very special. It was the first building in the world to use a new way of building called "tubular construction." This method makes buildings super strong. It was later used for other famous buildings, like the original World Trade Center towers.

This building has 43 floors. It has 407 homes inside. It is also the tallest building in Chicago covered in a beautiful stone called travertine marble. In 1975, the apartments were changed into condominiums. This means people could buy their own homes in the building. On the ground floor, there is a French restaurant called Le Petit Paris.

Building Design and Engineering

What is Tubular Construction?

The Plaza on DeWitt is famous for its unique design. Its engineer, Fazlur Rahman Khan, created a new way to build skyscrapers. This method is called "tubular construction."

Imagine a building as a hollow tube. In this design, the outer walls of the building work together. They act like a strong, stiff tube. This tube helps the building stand up to strong winds. It also helps it handle earthquakes.

This design makes buildings very strong and stable. It also uses less steel than older methods. This makes construction faster and often cheaper. It was a big step forward in how tall buildings are made.

Who Designed the Plaza on DeWitt?

The main designer was Fazlur Rahman Khan. He was a brilliant engineer from Bangladesh. He worked for a well-known architecture firm. This firm is called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, often shortened to SOM.

Khan's ideas changed how skyscrapers were built around the world. The Plaza on DeWitt was one of his first projects to use the tubular system. This showed how strong and efficient his new ideas were.

Important Building Features

How Tall is the Building?

The Plaza on DeWitt stands 43 stories high. It reaches a height of about 395 feet (120 meters). This makes it a significant part of the Chicago skyline.

What is Travertine Marble?

The outside of the building is covered in travertine marble. This is a beautiful natural stone. It has a light, creamy color. Using travertine gives the building a classic and elegant look. It also makes it stand out among other buildings in Chicago.

Building History and Changes

From Apartments to Condos

When it first opened in 1966, The Plaza on DeWitt had rental apartments. But in 1975, it was changed. The building became condominiums. This means that instead of renting, people could buy their own homes inside the building. This was a common change for many apartment buildings in Chicago.

Responding to Challenges

Like many large buildings, The Plaza on DeWitt has faced challenges. There were fires in 2002 and 2009. These events led to a large response from the Chicago Fire Department. Many firefighters worked hard to keep everyone safe and put out the fires. These situations showed how important building safety and emergency services are.