River North Point facts for kids
River North Point is a tall building in Chicago, Illinois. It has 24 floors and is located in the Near North Side part of the city. This building sits right where two parts of the Chicago River meet: the North Branch and the Main Branch.
The building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1977. It's found in the River North area, which is north of the Main Branch of the river and east of the North Branch.
River North Point was first built to be a huge place where businesses could buy and sell clothes in large amounts. This is called a "wholesale buying center" for the clothing industry. Even though its official name is River North Point, many people know it by other names. These include 350 West Mart Center, Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North, Merchandise Mart Annex, and Apparel Center. The building first opened its doors on November 6, 1976.
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Building History and Design
The River North Point building has an interesting history. It was created by the well-known architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. They are famous for designing many important buildings around the world. This building was completed in 1977, making it a part of Chicago's modern architecture.
What Was Its Original Purpose?
When it first opened, River North Point was meant to be the biggest wholesale buying center for the clothing industry anywhere. Imagine a giant marketplace where clothing companies could show off their new designs and stores could buy clothes in bulk. That was the main idea behind this building. It helped connect clothing makers with stores that would sell their products to people like you.
Many Names for One Building
Over the years, this building has been called many different things. Its official name is River North Point, but you might hear people call it 350 West Mart Center or even Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North because a hotel is located inside. Other names like Merchandise Mart Annex and Apparel Center also point to its history as a place for the clothing business. These different names show how the building has been used and known by various people over time.
Images for kids
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A view of Wolf Point, Chicago with the Apparel Center (River North Point) visible just behind the Wolf Point parking lot.
See also
In Spanish: 350 North Orleans para niños
