Monadnock Building

At 53 W Jackson Blvd in Chicago’s Loop, the Monadnock Building is a late-19th-century landmark with a ground floor open for a look inside. Its two halves show a shift in construction: the north half uses load-bearing brick, while the south half has an early steel frame. Step through the heavy wood-and-glass doors to see marble floors, mosaic tiles, metal railings and glazed wooden shop doors. Boutique shops line the ground floor, giving you a reason to slow down and look beyond the brick exterior.

Two halves, two building methods

The Monadnock Building brings together two phases of architectural development. Burnham and Root designed the north half, whose thick, load-bearing brick walls give the lower exterior a heavy, curved profile. Holabird and Roche designed the south half, which uses early steel-frame construction. The contrast is part of what makes the building worth a closer look: the change in structure is visible within a single landmark.

The north half is identified as the tallest load-bearing brick building in the world. The building’s history is also tied to the wider move from load-bearing walls to skeleton-frame construction. Instead of reading that transition only in a history book, you can see its two approaches represented side by side here.

Details on the ground floor

The building’s interior is a major part of the visit. Heavy wood-and-glass doors lead to a ground floor with marble and mosaic flooring, metal railings and glazed wooden doors. Shop names appear in gold lettering on glass, and brass knobs add another detail to notice as you pass the businesses.

The stairs are also notable: the building’s staircases are associated with an early structural use of aluminum in architecture. Some corridors are dim, so take your time as you look around. The ground floor contains offices as well as boutique shops, and finding a particular business can take a little effort. Security staff can help direct you.