Roanoke Building facts for kids
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Lumber Exchange Building and Tower Addition
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Roanoke Building from west along Madison
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 Location in Chicago Loop
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| Location | 11 South LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | Holabird & Roche |
| Architectural style | Portuguese Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001238 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 6, 2007 |
The 11 South LaSalle Street Building is a famous building in Chicago, Illinois. It's also known as the Roanoke Building. You can find it at 11 South LaSalle Street in the Loop area. This building is special because it's a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building stands on the corner of LaSalle and Madison Street. It's across from another important building, the One North LaSalle Building. Before the current building, there was an older Roanoke building on this spot. That old building was once used by the National Weather Service to track weather. The current building was officially recognized as a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2007. In 2015, it was changed into the world's largest Residence Inn hotel.
Contents
History of the Roanoke Building
The First Buildings
Before the current building, there were two older buildings on this site. The first was called Major Block 1. It was a four-story building. This building was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.
After the fire, Major Block 2 was built in 1872. This seven-story building later became known as the original Roanoke Building. It stood until 1912. For many years, from 1873 to 1887, this building was the official weather station for Chicago.
The Current Building's Start
The building you see today was designed by the architects Holabird & Roche. It was built in a few steps. The first 16 floors were finished in 1915. At first, it was called the Lumber Exchange Building.
The original design had cool arches on the fourth floor and at the very top. The building uses dark terra cotta (a type of baked clay) with designs inspired by Italian art. The main entrance and lobby are very fancy. They have a vaulted ceiling and marble walls, giving them a classic look.
Adding the Tower
In 1922, five more floors were added to the building. Then, in 1925, a tall tower was built next to the original structure. This made the building 35 stories high! The whole building now has about 330,000 square feet of space.
The tower was one of the first buildings to use "setbacks." These are parts of the building that step back as they go higher. This design helps more light reach the streets below. Four large bronze bells were put in the tower. They were made to chime a special song every 15 minutes. The biggest bell weighs over 7,200 pounds!
The Roanoke Building is the only one in Chicago built in the Portuguese Gothic architecture style. This means its decorations are inspired by old Portuguese buildings. The building was updated in the 1950s and again in 1984 to bring back its original fancy look.
For many years, a big law firm called Sidley & Austin had offices here. Today, many smaller companies use the building for their businesses.
Modern Updates and Hotel Conversion
The building has been getting many updates. The lobby, the outside walls (called the façade), the elevators, and the outdoor lights are all being improved. These updates are easier to do because the building is a historic landmark. This status helps the owners get special tax breaks.
In 2006, Michael Reschke bought the Roanoke Building. After some planning and legal steps, he decided to turn it into a hotel. In 2014, the city approved a plan to give tax help for the renovation. This included adding a green roof and turning the building into a Residence Inn.
On September 21, 2015, the building opened as the world's largest Residence Inn. It has 380 rooms and lots of meeting space. The renovation cost $136 million and took two years. In November 2015, the hotel celebrated its 40th anniversary and the building's 100th year. It was also the 700th Residence Inn location!
Images for kids
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Roanoke Building from west along Madison
See also
In Spanish: Roanoke Building para niños
