R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. Calumet Plant

The R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. Calumet Plant is a former printing facility in Chicago that now operates as a data center and server hosting location. Its structure consists of reinforced concrete with heavy-duty columns and floors built to support industrial machinery and modern server equipment.

The building was constructed between 1912 and 1929 and operated as a major printing facility for catalogs and publications. After printing operations closed in 1993, the structure was repurposed into a data center.

The exterior decorations include symbols representing printing history, while the Memorial Library interior demonstrates the industrial architectural style of the period.

The building is not open to visitors since it operates as a secure data center for financial firms and telecommunications companies. You can view its exterior from the street to appreciate the sturdy industrial architecture of the era.

The building was among the first industrial structures in America specifically designed to house data centers. Its conversion shows how old factory designs could be adapted for an entirely different digital purpose.

Location: Illinois

Architects: Howard Van Doren Shaw

GPS coordinates: 41.85361,-87.61806

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:29