Building at 320 West Oakdale Avenue, International Style skyscraper in Chicago, United States
The building at 320 West Oakdale Avenue is a 21-story glass cube in the International Style with uniform window fronts on all sides. From the fourth floor upward, each level contains three residential units, while the lower floors have different configurations to accommodate commercial and other uses.
Milton M. Schwartz designed and built this structure in 1953 as his first major project in Chicago. The high-rise marked an important step in the city's adoption of the International Style and contributed to reshaping the modern skyline.
The building displays the clean, geometric language that defined the International Style of the 1950s. Its plain facades and repeated window pattern reflect the movement's focus on simplicity and function over decoration.
The structure is a large, prominent building easily visible from the street, with transparent glass surfaces that offer views into the interior. Visitors should note that it is a private residential building and can only be viewed from the outside.
The building was among the first in Chicago to be completely air-conditioned and feature an all-glass design, which was revolutionary for its time. This combination made it a milestone in the development of modern residential high-rises and attracted attention from architecture publications.
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