McGraw-Hill Building

The McGraw-Hill Building was a 16-story tower on Chicago's Michigan Avenue featuring an ornate facade with sculptural embellishments. The structure displayed characteristic commercial architecture of the early 1900s with elaborate artistic details throughout its exterior.

The building was constructed in the early 1900s as headquarters for a major publishing company. After standing nearly a century, it was demolished in 1998, but its facade was saved and incorporated into a modern hotel.

The facade shaped how Michigan Avenue looked and showed how publishing companies expressed their identity through buildings. The sculptural elements became a recognizable feature of the streetscape and continue to influence how people perceive the area today.

The preserved facade is now part of the Gwen Hotel on Michigan Avenue and can be viewed from the street. The hotel allows visitors to examine the architectural details from close range and appreciate the craftsmanship.

The artistic sculptures on the facade were created by a single artist named Gwen Lux, so notable that the modern hotel is named after her. This connection between historical artwork and contemporary naming is a rare example of how architectural details shape the present.