Pittsfield Building

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Pittsfield Building


built = 1927
use = Office
location = 55 E. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA
roof = 168 meter (551 feet)
top_floor =
antenna_spire =
floor_count = 38
floor_area =
elevator_count =
architect = Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
contractor =
developer =
skyscraperpage_id =

The Pittsfield Building, is a 38-story skyscraper located at 55 E. Washington Street in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, USA, that was the city's tallest building at the time of its completion. cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-0602280270feb28,1,1523090.story?coll=chi-nonmmxent-utl|title=The list gets longer on shortcuts|author=Kamin, Blair|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=February 28, 2006|accessdate = 2007-08-05] The building was designated as a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002.

History

The property, in the Jewelers' Row Landmark District, was developed by heirs of Marshall Field, and is named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts where Marshall Field obtained his first job.cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=pittsfieldbuilding-chicago-il-usa|title=Pittsfield Building|publisher=Emporis|date=|accessdate = 2007-08-04] The nearby Burnham Center, at the intersection of Clark Street and Washington Street, was originally named the Conway Building after Conway, Massachusetts - the birthplace of Marshall Field.cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=116837|title=Burnham Center|publisher=Emporis|date=|accessdate = 2007-08-04] Marshall Field III presented the property as a gift to the Field Museum of Natural History in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary. The museum held the property until September 1960 when the museum sold it.

Architecture

Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, the structure combines both art deco and Gothic detailing, while complying with a 1923 zoning ordinance which mandated that skyscrapers with setbacks.cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=pittsfieldbuilding-chicago-il-usa|title=Pittsfield dBuilding|publisher=Emporis|date=|accessdate = 2007-08-04] The interior of the building features a five-story atrium, lined by balconies and shops, that is detailed with glowing marbles, gleaming brass and Spanish Gothic style carvings.cite web|url=http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/P/Pittsfield.html|title=Pittsfield Building|publisher=City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division|date=2003|accessdate = 2007-08-04]

Today

Alter Group, a city-state|Skokie|Illinois-based real estate developer has acquired the thirteenth through twenty-first floors of the building with plans for dormitory conversion at a cost of $23 million (about $173 per square foot). It will finance the $45-million renovation costs with a $36-million loan from First bank and has entered lease agreements with Roosevelt University and Robert Morris College for 350 of the planned 450 beds. Robert Danial who acquired the entire building for $15 million in 2000 continues to own the remaining portions of the building. The building is used mostly by doctors, dentists and jewelers and students will have a separate entry under the plans. [Gallun, Alby, "Pittsfield to get college dormitory," "Crain's Chicago Business", p. 16, January 282008.]

Position in Chicago's skyline

ee also

*Chicago architecture
*Chicago Landmark

Notes