Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog House and Administration Building

“The Catalog House is doubly impressive for being one of the nation's earliest and largest examples of a structure built completely of reinforced concrete, a type of innovative construction that was lauded at the time as an outstanding technological achievement.”

“Richard Schmidt, the firm's senior partner, was considered an exceptional architectural engineer, as well as one of the nation's premier hospital designers. His book, The Modern Hospital (1914), is considered one of the pioneering textbooks of the profession.”

“They were listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The Catalog House is identified with the life of one of the city's most prominent individuals, A. Montgomery Ward, a nationally known merchandising pioneer who also led a successful civic battle to save one of the city's great lakefront legacies, Grant Park, from commercial development.”

“Within a decade, sales were over $1 million, and the mail-order catalog had won a lasting place in the annals of retailing history. Ward remained active in the company through the first decade of the 20th century, and was integral in moving its corporate offices and warehouse operations to the present-day Chicago River location.”

“Garden's distinctive and progressive style of architecture influenced a generation of architects; today, he is regarded as one of the major shapers of early- 20th century architecture. Garden's unique style of design is displayed in the distinctive ornament, strongly geometric forms, and intricate masonry details of his various works, designs that continue to influence modern architecture.”

“As a revolutionary concept in retailing, mail order catalogs were pivotal in raising the standard of living for the American farmer and in bringing agrarian society into the mainstream of American life.”

“The Catalog House is one of the firm's most influential works. Finally, the Montgomery Ward & Co. complex is one of the city's most well "established and familiar visual features." Its dramatic, curving form ranks as one of the most impressive visual images along the Chicago River, and the Administration Building's distinctive tower and sculpture can be seen for miles.”

“Although most of these large companies no longer sell by catalog, the tremendous impact of mail order sales continues to the present. In particular, Wards was an integral part of the development of Chicago's mercantile community, and the development of the catalog business was one of the key factors in the city's rapid rise to commercial and industrial prominence during the last decades of the 19th century.”

“The handling of different materials has been the basis for the invention of new forms. --William Herbert, Architectural Record (1908) One of the few late buildings in which the spirit of the Chicago School still survives. --Siegfrid Giedion, Space, Time and Architecture (1941) This building stands by itself as one of the most powerful works of utilitarian architecture that our building art has produced. --Carl Condit, The Chicago School of Architecture (1964) Literally from the time of its construction-- and continuing to the present day--the Montgomery Ward & Co.”