Fine Arts Building, Arts center in Michigan Avenue, Chicago, US.
Description
The Fine Arts Building is a ten-story structure on Michigan Avenue with granite columns, limestone piers, and oriel windows facing Grant Park. Inside, a central light well runs through the building, and it contains hundreds of artist studios and performance venues spread across multiple floors.
History
The building was erected in 1885 as the Studebaker Building for carriage manufacturing. A major renovation in 1898 transformed it into an arts center, a role it has maintained for over a century.
Culture
The building houses artist studios and performance spaces where musicians and visual artists work alongside cultural organizations. These active spaces shape the building's daily life and show how it evolved into a center for creative work.
Practical
The ten floors are accessible by manual elevators that have operated since the early 1900s and add to the building's historic character. The affordable studio rents draw artists who work and practice here daily.
Did you know?
Inside the building is a Venetian Court that extends from the fourth floor to the roof, bringing daylight through a central well. This hidden architectural feature is not visible from the street entrance and surprises many visitors as they explore the interior.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Illinois).
Art Institute of Chicago
339 m
Symphony Center
274 m
Auditorium Theatre
109 m
Harold Washington Library
298 m
Auditorium Building
67 m
The Blackstone Hotel
346 m
Art Institute of Chicago building
359 m
CNA Center
138 m
Chicago Club
54 m
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
85 m
Abraham Lincoln: The Head of State
271 m
Metropolitan Tower
129 m
Fountain of the Great Lakes
280 m
Second Leiter Building
229 m
Museum of Contemporary Photography
249 m
Railway Exchange Building
213 m
Peoples Gas Building
380 mRyerson & Burnham Libraries
339 m
Goldblatt's Building
246 m
Dexter Building
340 m
McClurg Building
299 m
Bust of Sir Georg Solti
178 m
Chapin and Gore Building
323 m
Buckingham Building
41 m
Municipal Courts Building
396 m
Merle Reskin Theatre
355 m
Wabash Arts Corridor
331 m
The Bowman
140 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes