Wrigley Building Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wrigley Building
Chicago's Wrigley Building
General information
Type	commercial offices
Location	400-410 N. Michigan Ave Chicago, Illinois
Country	United States
Coordinates	41°53′23″N 87°37′29″W / 41.889707°N 87.624861°W / 41.889707; -87.624861
Construction started	1920
Completed	September 1921
Opening	May 1924 (both towers)
Height
Antenna spire	438 ft.
Roof	425 ft.
Top floor	21 (North Tower) 30 (South Tower)
Design and construction
Architect	Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
Developer	William Wrigley Jr.

The Wrigley Building is a tall building, called a skyscraper, in Chicago. You can find it at 400–410 North Michigan Avenue. It's part of the famous Magnificent Mile area, right across the street from the Tribune Tower. This building was originally made to be the main office for the Wrigley Company, famous for its chewing gum.

Building History and Design

Work on the Wrigley Building started in 1920. Back then, there weren't many big office buildings north of the Chicago River. The Michigan Avenue Bridge, which crosses the river right near the building, was still being built.

Why the Location Was Chosen

William Wrigley Jr., who owned the chewing gum company, chose this spot for his company's main office. He wanted a special building for his business.

Who Designed the Building

The building was designed by a group of architects called Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. They used ideas from the Giralda tower in Seville, Spain. They also added details from French Renaissance style buildings.

When the Towers Were Built

The south tower, which is 425 feet (130 m) tall, was finished in September 1921. The north tower was completed a few years later, in May 1924.

Connecting the Towers

Walkways were built to connect the two towers. One walkway is on the ground level, and another is on the third floor. In 1931, a third walkway was added on the fourteenth floor. This was to connect to a bank office, following a rule in Chicago about bank branches.

Size of the Building

The two towers together have a total area of about 453,433 square feet (42,125.3 m²). This does not include the levels below Michigan Avenue.

Unique Features of the Wrigley Building

The two towers are not the same height. The south tower has 30 stories, while the north tower has 21 stories.

The Famous Clock Tower

On the south tower, there is a large clock. It has faces pointing in all four directions. Each clock face is very big, about 19 feet 7 inches (5.97 m) across.

The Gleaming White Look

The building is covered in a special material called glazed terra-cotta. This gives it its bright, shining white look. To keep it looking clean, the entire building is sometimes washed by hand. At night, bright lights shine on the building, making it glow.

First Air-Conditioned Building

The Wrigley Building was the first office building in Chicago to have air conditioning. This made it a very comfortable place to work.

A Hidden Park Area

If you walk through the center doors of the building, you will find a quiet park area. From here, you can look out over the Chicago River.

Wrigley Building in Pop Culture

The Wrigley Building has appeared in movies and toys.

In a Science Fiction Movie

In the 1957 science fiction movie Beginning of the End, giant grasshoppers attack downtown Chicago. In one scene, they are shown climbing up the side of the Wrigley Building.

As a Lego Model

In 2017, Lego Architecture created a model of the Chicago skyline. The Wrigley Building was one of the famous buildings included in this set.

Recent Changes and Tenants

The Wrigley Building was sold in 2011 to a group of investors. This group included Zeller Realty Group and the people who started Groupon, Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell.

Making the Building Modern

The new owners wanted to make the building more appealing to businesses. They added new features like a Walgreens store, a coffee shop, a fitness center, and a nursing room for mothers.

Who Works There Now

Many different businesses and organizations have offices in the Wrigley Building.

Businesses at 400 North Michigan Avenue

The Consulate-General of Austria is located in Suite 707.
Select Model Management is in Suite 700.

Businesses at 410 North Michigan Avenue

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is in Suite 900.
EZCall, which is part of Kronos Incorporated, is in Suite 660.
Capax Global US Headquarters is in Suite 650.
Perkins and Will also have offices here.

Images for kids

The clock tower seen from the Trump International Hotel and Tower's restaurant, "Terrace 16"
The tower inspired by the Giralda
The building lit up at night, July 4, 2005
A close-up of the clocktower, June 21, 2008
Night view of the building from the Chicago River
The Wrigley Building's Giralda-inspired tower
A view along Michigan Ave., with the Wrigley Building on the right
The building seen from across the Chicago River
An upward view of the building
An angle showing more detail of the building's annex