Kluczynski Federal Building

The Kluczynski Federal Building is a 42-story skyscraper in the Chicago Loop featuring a bronze-tinted glass facade with aluminum frames. The structure spans over a million square feet and houses various federal agencies along South Dearborn Street.

The building was commissioned by the U.S. government in 1959 and designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It was part of a major effort to modernize federal office buildings across the nation.

The plaza features Alexander Calder's red steel sculpture Flamingo, which creates a striking contrast to the building's straight lines and geometric design. The sculpture has become a gathering spot that shapes how people move through and experience the public space.

The building is centrally located and easily accessible by public transit and on foot. The public plaza surrounding it is typically open during daytime hours and offers a good opportunity to explore the architecture and sculpture.

The building follows an exact grid system where every element from structural columns to light fixtures aligns perfectly with the granite pavement. This unified design extends seamlessly from the exterior plaza into the building's interior.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1974

Architects: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Official opening: 1975

Floors above the ground: 42

Part of: Chicago Federal Center

GPS coordinates: 41.87840,-87.62990

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:27