Flat Iron Building

The Flat Iron Building is a nine-story structure with a triangular shape at the intersection of North Wells Street and North Clark Street, with its narrowest point measuring approximately 85 feet in width. The building features flexible office spaces with high ceilings, wood trim details, and contemporary building systems throughout all nine floors.

Construction began in 1872 and was financed by entrepreneur Peter Brooks from Boston, who invested capital from Massachusetts in Chicago real estate development. The building was completed during a period when the city was expanding rapidly and establishing new commercial districts.

The building displays Victorian commercial architecture with cast iron storefronts and elaborate window designs that characterize the North Side streetscape. These architectural features make the location a recognizable landmark in the neighborhood.

The building is located at a prominent street corner, which makes navigation and orientation straightforward. Visitors should note that the triangular shape creates compact interior spaces, and maintenance work is regularly performed on the premises.

Metal columns on the exterior walls support the entire structure, representing an early example of skeleton frame construction that later became standard in architecture. This construction method allowed architects to build thinner exterior walls and create more usable interior space.