Heyworth Building
Encyclopedia
The Heyworth Building is a Chicago Landmark
located at 29 East Madison Street
, on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
The building was constructed in 1904 by the architectural firm of D. H. Burnham & Company
under the commission of Otto Young, a real estate investor and wholesale jeweler. It received its name from the son in law of Otto Young, Lawrence Heyworth, who also supervised construction of the building. Like many other buildings along Wabash Avenue, the Heyworth historically housed watchmakers, jewelers, and associated businesses. This structure was one of the final buildings designed by Frederick P. Dinkelberg
at the firm before administration was turned over to Ernest Robert Graham.
The Heyworth stands 19 stories tall with a gross square footage of 256000 square feet (23,783.2 m²). Its style strays from the typical designs of Burnham and Root, appearing more rigid and geometrical than their other works done in a classical style. It combined the Chicago School's
structurally expressive character with decorative appearance common in traditional masonry architecture. The tapestry
-like ornament of the building pairs well with the ornamentation designed by Louis Sullivan
on the adjacent Sullivan Center building. The Heyworth is also noted for its intact finely crafted decorative cornice
, which is an uncommon feature among the other commercial buildings of Chicago. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark on August 30, 2000.
According to a real estate firm that manages the property, the height of the building is listed in various documents as 260, 273, and 282 feet (86 m).
The building was provided an $11 million renovation in 2001. As part of the renovation, the facade
was cleaned and the famous cornice was rebuilt after having undergone a stripping in years past. It is currently the home of MacCormac College
in Chicago and to the Center for Economic Progress
.
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
located at 29 East Madison Street
Madison Street (Chicago)
Madison Street is a major east-west street in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to human intervention, the Chicago River emptied into Lake Michigan at the present day intersection of Madison Street and Michigan Avenue....
, on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
The building was constructed in 1904 by the architectural firm of D. H. Burnham & Company
D. H. Burnham & Company
D.H. Burnham and Company of was an architecture firm based in Chicago, Illinois. As successor to Burnham and Root, the name was changed once John Root died in 1891. Root was the chief consulting architect for the World's Columbian Exposition. After Root's death, Daniel Burnham took that title...
under the commission of Otto Young, a real estate investor and wholesale jeweler. It received its name from the son in law of Otto Young, Lawrence Heyworth, who also supervised construction of the building. Like many other buildings along Wabash Avenue, the Heyworth historically housed watchmakers, jewelers, and associated businesses. This structure was one of the final buildings designed by Frederick P. Dinkelberg
Frederick P. Dinkelberg
Frederick Philip Dinkelberg was an American architect best known for being Daniel Burnham's associate for the design of the Flatiron Building in Manhattan, New York City...
at the firm before administration was turned over to Ernest Robert Graham.
The Heyworth stands 19 stories tall with a gross square footage of 256000 square feet (23,783.2 m²). Its style strays from the typical designs of Burnham and Root, appearing more rigid and geometrical than their other works done in a classical style. It combined the Chicago School's
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
structurally expressive character with decorative appearance common in traditional masonry architecture. The tapestry
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
-like ornament of the building pairs well with the ornamentation designed by Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
on the adjacent Sullivan Center building. The Heyworth is also noted for its intact finely crafted decorative cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
, which is an uncommon feature among the other commercial buildings of Chicago. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark on August 30, 2000.
According to a real estate firm that manages the property, the height of the building is listed in various documents as 260, 273, and 282 feet (86 m).
The building was provided an $11 million renovation in 2001. As part of the renovation, the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
was cleaned and the famous cornice was rebuilt after having undergone a stripping in years past. It is currently the home of MacCormac College
MacCormac College
MacCormac College is a private non for profit two year college in Chicago, Illinois, USA.-References:*...
in Chicago and to the Center for Economic Progress
Center for Economic Progress
The Center for Economic Progress is a non-profit organization based in Chicago that offers free tax preparation and financial counseling to low-income families...
.
See also
- Chicago school (architecture)
- Chicago architectureChicago architectureThe architecture of Chicago has influenced and reflected the history of American architecture. The city of Chicago, Illinois features prominent buildings in a variety of styles by many important architects...