Monadnock Building, High-rise building in Chicago Loop, US
The Monadnock Building is a 16-story office tower in Chicago Loop with load-bearing brick walls that narrow as they rise from street level. Large projecting bay windows define the front, arranged in a regular pattern across the entire height of the structure.
Built between 1891 and 1893, the complex went up in two separate phases designed by different architectural practices. It stands among the final major commercial towers in Chicago to rely entirely on masonry walls for support.
The structure represents the Chicago School architectural style and marks the transition from load-bearing masonry construction to modern steel-frame building techniques.
The structure sits at 53 West Jackson Boulevard in the central business district and houses offices across all floors. Entrances face both Jackson Boulevard and Dearborn Street, offering different access routes.
More than 100 custom brick shapes were molded specifically to form the gentle curves of the northern facade. This meticulous handcraft allowed a level of refinement in masonry design that had not been achieved before in late 19th-century commercial construction.
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