Chicago City Wire

The Century and Consumers Buildings in Chicago have been granted landmark status through a unique process outlined in the municipal code. These high-rises, located at 202 S. State St. and 220 S. State St., respectively, were recommended for landmark designation by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks in December 2023. The recommendations were moved to the City Council via the City Clerk’s office on January 22, 2024. As no vote occurred within a year, the designations became official retroactively as of January 22, 2025.

Section 2-120-705 of the municipal code stipulates: “If the City Council does not take final action upon any landmark recommendation submitted by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to the City Council within 365 days of the date upon which the recommendation is filed with the City Council, landmark designation based upon the recommendation of the commission shall be granted.”

The buildings have remained vacant since their acquisition by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in 2005. Ciere Boatright, Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, commented on this outcome: “The process was unique, but the outcome could not be more clear: The Consumers and Century buildings are officially recognized contributors to Chicago’s architectural legacy and should be preserved.”

Completed in 1916, The Century is one of few remaining “tall shops” buildings that originally housed retailers and wholesalers when State Street featured mostly low-rise structures and department stores. Designed by Holabird & Roche, this Gothic-style high-rise has a steel frame with plate glass windows and terra-cotta cladding typical of Chicago School architecture.

The Consumers Building was completed in 1913 and catered to commercial tenants requiring open floor plans with ample sunlight provided by its structural design. Created by Mundie & Jensen, this Classical Revival-style high-rise features white terra cotta cladding and an intact marble-clad elevator lobby.

Both buildings contribute to the Loop Retail Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2022, Congress allocated $52 million for demolishing these buildings along with two smaller structures between them. This funding initiated a Section 106 process determining demolition would adversely affect both structures.

Consequently, GSA issued a request for qualification (RFQ) for adaptive reuse projects with submissions due by January 31, 2025. A request for lease proposals from shortlisted respondents is expected soon.

Section 2-120-705 was adopted in the mid-1990s to ensure timely City Council review of Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommendations.