Rand McNally Building

The Rand McNally Building is a 10-story skyscraper made of red brick and steel frame in the Chicago Loop. The structure contains ground-level retail spaces and office floors above, designed for both commercial operations and publishing activities.

Daniel Burnham designed this building in 1889 using an all-steel frame structure for the entire height. This approach became a defining method for skyscraper construction moving forward.

The building housed the World's Columbian Exposition headquarters on its fourth and fifth floors, contributing to the planning of the 1893 event.

The building sits in a busy commercial area with good foot traffic and nearby transit connections. Visitors can easily view the facade from street level and appreciate the architectural details from the outside.

The building housed the planning office for the 1893 World's Fair on its upper floors and played a key role in organizing that major event. It also served as a telephone exchange center, allowing for long-distance calls that were groundbreaking at that time.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1889

Architects: Daniel Burnham

GPS coordinates: 41.87922,-87.63303

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:41