Printing House Row District

Printing House Row District is a historic area in South Loop spanning four blocks along South Dearborn Street with tall commercial buildings built using metal frames and load-bearing masonry. The structures show the practical design that made Chicago a center for publishing and print production during the late 1800s.

After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, printing companies and publishers moved to this area and established it as the city's printing hub. The buildings developed over the following decades using new construction methods that combined steel frames with masonry walls.

The buildings today house offices, galleries, and artist studios that shape how people use and experience the neighborhood. This current character reflects how the district has adapted while maintaining its connection to skilled craftsmanship and creative work.

The area is easy to explore on foot and benefits from nearby public transportation connections to the metro and bus network. Many buildings remain accessible today since they house offices, shops, and public spaces that welcome visitors.

The buildings feature unusually narrow floor plans specifically designed to bring natural light deep into the working spaces during the era of printing and engraving. This design choice reveals how the architecture directly adapted to the practical needs of the trades that once thrived there.