Crane Company Building

The Crane Company Building is a twelve-story skyscraper in downtown Chicago featuring limestone facing on its lower floors and red brick construction from the fourth through eleventh stories. The Neoclassical design divides the facade into three distinct sections, creating a balanced and formal appearance.

Completed in 1912 by architects Holabird & Roche, it served as headquarters for Crane Company, a major manufacturer of plumbing and piping equipment. The building was converted from commercial offices to residential use in 1960 as the company's prominence in the industry declined.

The terra cotta panels on the facade display valve motifs that reflect the company's core business in plumbing equipment manufacturing. These decorative elements tell visitors about the industrial craftsmanship that defined the building's original purpose.

The building sits on South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago's core and is easily reached on foot or by public transit. Since it now serves as a residential property, interior access is limited to residents, but the striking exterior can be fully viewed from the street.

It remains the principal Chicago landmark connected to Crane Company after their manufacturing facilities and executive residences were demolished. This office building stands as the last tangible trace of an industrial legacy that once shaped the city.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1912

Architects: Holabird & Root

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Floors above the ground: 12

Address: 836 South Michigan Avenue

GPS coordinates: 41.87060,-87.62440

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:22