Sears, Roebuck, and Company Complex
Encyclopedia
Sears, Roebuck and Company Complex is a complex that includes the Sears Merchandise Building Tower and the Sears, Roebuck and Company Administration Building. It was the headquarters and main operations for all parts of the Sears Roebuck Company for almost seven decades.
Of the original 41.6 acres (168,349.4 m²) complex, an area of 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1978.
A development named Homan Square has, in recent years, been constructed which consists of new residences, retail, and a community center on the site of the old Sears headquarters. Homan Square is often used as an example of the gradual turn around of North Lawndale
. Included in this reconstruction effort is the massive rehabilitation of the Homan Square Power House, into the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center—a LEED
Gold historic renovation designed by Farr Associates.
Relatedly, the current National Historic Landmark status statement questions whether the site, given changes, should be continued as a National Historic Landmark.
In the 1920s extensive athletic facilities were added and athletic field events. They encouraged after-work socialization to keep high morale among their employees. Included were a clubhouse and tennis courts, and the Sears Department of the YMCA
. Events included an annual track and field competitions, and company baseball teams. WLS radio formerly broadcasted from the 11th floor. An image of the building was used on the Sears catalogue during the early part of the 20th century.
as a retail headquarters
and distribution center. Officially opened in 1906 it was the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) home of Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago. The 3.3 million ft² office building attached to the tower was later demolished.
for, Sears, Roebuck and Company
, the largest mail order and merchandise company in the United States for over sixty years. It was located on the northern edge of the North Lawndale
community area
of Chicago, Illinois. It was listed as a Chicago Landmark
on September 4, 2002 at the 3333 W. Arthington Street address. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and as a National Historic Landmark
on June 2, 1978 at the 925 S. Homan Avenue, which is http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?ed=q18VWeV.winwjF0K0Plx4JBcriGo7CsYadbZgK44M5AiwwhhsieVPHIyTaosEULdk1ZQ9hG2Ii1Y5HBjn09wRu_Szr7w18dhgnqbvAbpY9BNklMJtnfHieYrTwpCHE6b&name=&csz=Chicago%2C+IL+60624-4102&desc=&country=US&tname=&tcsz=Chicago%2C+IL+60624-4108&tdesc=&tcountry=US&tbt=0&ds=n&rkey=Me8v4uR32XVWqKM530EN16HTSQlVe8tewMiZbC.orLtKzA69rPYFYz39uVrZfb6XOOCtfuErWOusP2rWzwKHsR8VdlN.7mZc05irRbw8SJ.BxWTcFkaqjrzf7itaVg--&om=2&textonly=0&trf=0&oerr=&terr=&zoom=1&mag=1around the corner].
This building was formerly attached to the Sears Merchandise Building Tower, the original Sears Tower.
- Original Sears Tower 1906
- Automatic Telephone Switchboard 1906
- Long distance operators switchboard 1906
- Catalog printing facilities 1906
- Pneumatic tubePneumatic tubePneumatic tubes are systems in which cylindrical containers are propelled through a network of tubes by compressed air or by partial vacuum...
system 1906 - Administration Building 1906
- Drinking fountains (300), and Moving Stairway escalatorEscalatorAn escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
1920 - Recreation room and library
- WLS radio station 1924
- Sears first retail outlet 1926
- Allstate InsuranceAllstateThe Allstate Corporation is the second-largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest that is publicly held. The company also has personal lines insurance operations in Canada. Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was spun off in 1993...
1931 - Allstate building 1945
- Homart Development CompanyHomart Development CompanyHomart Development Company, a subsidiary of Sears, was one of the largest builders of shopping centers and malls in the United States from 1959 to 1995.-Company history:...
1959 - Parking deck 1960, added needs for employee parking.
Of the original 41.6 acres (168,349.4 m²) complex, an area of 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1978.
A development named Homan Square has, in recent years, been constructed which consists of new residences, retail, and a community center on the site of the old Sears headquarters. Homan Square is often used as an example of the gradual turn around of North Lawndale
North Lawndale, Chicago
North Lawndale located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the well-defined community areas in the city of Chicago.-History:...
. Included in this reconstruction effort is the massive rehabilitation of the Homan Square Power House, into the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center—a LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Gold historic renovation designed by Farr Associates.
Relatedly, the current National Historic Landmark status statement questions whether the site, given changes, should be continued as a National Historic Landmark.
History
Early catalog advertising of 1906 invited customers to come to Chicago to tour the facilities as their time permitted when visiting Chicago. This included not only the merchandise building, but also the advertising building, administration building, and power house.In the 1920s extensive athletic facilities were added and athletic field events. They encouraged after-work socialization to keep high morale among their employees. Included were a clubhouse and tennis courts, and the Sears Department of the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. Events included an annual track and field competitions, and company baseball teams. WLS radio formerly broadcasted from the 11th floor. An image of the building was used on the Sears catalogue during the early part of the 20th century.
Automobile parking created change
By 1926, the first ground level parking lots replaced the athletic fields. This happened at the same time that a strategic shift from catalog sales to retail stores had started with easy auto travel making travel to a store more practical.A city in a city
By 1943 the complex had become a city within itself. Sears created their own services for effective use, much advanced beyond what was required at the time.- Company fire department, with volunteer firemen, and early use of fire sprinklers.
- Power station - generated power for all facilities.
- 200,000 gallon water tank, water use and fire prevention purposes.
- Newspaper publicity office.
- Testing laboratory - new products.
- Cafeteria - originally men and women were separated, and multiple levels of service for all employee lunch and breakfast.
- Sears Bank - services for employees on site.
Sears Merchandise Building Tower
The Sears Merchandise Building Tower is a small part of a building that was used by SearsSears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
as a retail headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
and distribution center. Officially opened in 1906 it was the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) home of Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago. The 3.3 million ft² office building attached to the tower was later demolished.
Sears, Roebuck and Company Administration Building
The Sears, Roebuck and Company Administration Building was the headquartersHeadquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
for, Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, the largest mail order and merchandise company in the United States for over sixty years. It was located on the northern edge of the North Lawndale
North Lawndale, Chicago
North Lawndale located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the well-defined community areas in the city of Chicago.-History:...
community area
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
of Chicago, Illinois. It was listed as a Chicago Landmark
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,...
on September 4, 2002 at the 3333 W. Arthington Street address. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on June 2, 1978 at the 925 S. Homan Avenue, which is http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?ed=q18VWeV.winwjF0K0Plx4JBcriGo7CsYadbZgK44M5AiwwhhsieVPHIyTaosEULdk1ZQ9hG2Ii1Y5HBjn09wRu_Szr7w18dhgnqbvAbpY9BNklMJtnfHieYrTwpCHE6b&name=&csz=Chicago%2C+IL+60624-4102&desc=&country=US&tname=&tcsz=Chicago%2C+IL+60624-4108&tdesc=&tcountry=US&tbt=0&ds=n&rkey=Me8v4uR32XVWqKM530EN16HTSQlVe8tewMiZbC.orLtKzA69rPYFYz39uVrZfb6XOOCtfuErWOusP2rWzwKHsR8VdlN.7mZc05irRbw8SJ.BxWTcFkaqjrzf7itaVg--&om=2&textonly=0&trf=0&oerr=&terr=&zoom=1&mag=1around the corner].
This building was formerly attached to the Sears Merchandise Building Tower, the original Sears Tower.
Early brands used local names
- Homart - Homan Avenue building location. 1934
- Tower - Original Sears Tower. 1950
Movies that used the site as a location
- Ocean's TwelveOcean's TwelveOcean's Twelve is a 2004 American crime comedy film, the sequel to 2001's Ocean's Eleven. Like its predecessor, which was a remake of the 1960 film Ocean's 11, the film used a celebrity ensemble cast. It was released in the United States on December 10, 2004. A third film, Ocean's Thirteen, was...
(2004) - George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
and Matt DamonMatt DamonMatthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
along with many other actors filmed a scene in the Power House. - Stranger than Fiction (2006) - For this movie, Emma ThompsonEmma ThompsonEmma Thompson is a British actress, comedian and screenwriter. Her first major film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy. In 1992, Thompson won multiple acting awards, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, for her performance in the British drama Howards End...
filmed a night scene in front of the tower.
External links
- Homan Square
- Sears Merchandise Building Tower at EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....