333 North Michigan Building

“The 333 North Michigan Building has character, interest, and value as one of the first buildings to be erected in the vicinity of the new Michigan Avenue Bridge.”

“The firm's work during the late- 1920s and early-1930s was equally important, particularly its Art Deco-inspired designs for such monumental skyscrapers as the Chicago Board of Trade, Palmolive Building, and the 333 North Michigan Building.”

“The Plan treated Michigan Avenue as one of the major north-south axes, the one "destined to carry the heaviest movement of any street in the world." The Chicago Plan called for widening Michigan Avenue between Randolph Street and Chicago Avenue and for raising it between Randolph and Grand Avenue to create a lower level that would accommodate commercial traffic.”

“In 1909, the Chicago Plan Commission was established to promote the adoption and implementation of the Burnham Plan; one of its earliest projects was to persuade the city to undertake the improvement of Michigan Avenue.”

“Work began on the street in 1916 and the construction of the bridge was started in 1918. It was opened with great fanfare on May 14, 1920 and, as historian Carl Condit relates in Chicago 1910-29: Building, Planning and Urban Technology: The effect was immediate and striking, and in less than a decade the extension of Michigan Avenue northward to its termination at Oak Street was to be totally transformed into a new kind of urban boulevard.”

“(1928; Holabird & Roche/Holabird & Root) The 333 NORTH MICHIGAN BUILDING is one of the city's most outstanding Art Deco-style skyscrapers. It is one of four buildings surrounding the Michigan Avenue Bridge that defines one of the city's--and nation's--finest urban spaces.”

“The architects took maximum advantage of the site in their design and, hence, the building has been one of the most conspicuous parts of the character of the city--and Michigan Avenue--since its completion in 1928.”

“The ultimate triumph of Holabird and Root came in 1930 when they were awarded a gold medal by the Architectural League of New York "for the great distinction and high architectural quality which they have achieved in the solution of the American office building." In 1980, the Chicago Historical Society mounted a major retrospective of the work of the Holabird and Roche/Holabird and Root.”

“As such, it helps to form the gateway to North Michigan Avenue--one of the city's great urban spaces--and historically has figured in the development of that street as one of Chicago's premier thoroughfares.”

“The building's prominence is heightened by its unique site. Due to the jog of Michigan Avenue at the bridge, the building is visible the length of North Michigan Avenue, appearing to be located in the center of the street.”