Brooks Building

The Brooks Building is a 12-story office structure at 223 West Jackson Boulevard distinguished by its striking steel frame and terracotta facade. Large windows pierce through the walls adorned with orange-brown and green ornaments, creating a uniform pattern across its full height.

Architects Holabird & Roche designed this steel-frame building in 1909 as an example of early skyscraper construction technology. The building method demonstrated how modern materials pushed Chicago to new heights in the early 1900s.

The building displays the characteristic facade design of the Chicago School with terracotta ornamentation in orange and green tones. This decoration shapes the street's appearance today and makes the structure immediately recognizable to passersby.

The building sits in the Loop with direct access to transportation and the business district. Note that this is a private office building where visitors can only access public areas such as the lobby.

The building's name comes from its corner position, commanding four streets from that vantage point, which gave its owners a prized location for commerce and offices. This corner position made it an example of the competitive real estate market of that era.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1909

Architects: William Holabird, Martin Roche

Architectural style: Chicago School

Floors above the ground: 12

Elevators: 4

Elevation above the sea: 180 m

Made from material: terracotta, steel

Address: 223 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60606

GPS coordinates: 41.87781,-87.63477

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:31