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Metropolitan Tower (Chicago)

January 01, 1970

The Metropolitan Tower is a skyscraper located at 310 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Historic Michigan Boulevard District in the Loop community area in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Developed by Metropolitan Properties of Chicago,[1] it has been renovated as a condominium complex with 242 units.[2] Residences range in size from 1,200 square feet (110 m2) to 4,000 square feet (370 m2). Penthouses feature 360 degree city views and private elevators.[3] Prices run from $300,000 for a 762 square feet (70.8 m2) one-bedroom unit to $1.365 million for a 1,932 square feet (179.5 m2) three-bedroom.[4] The Metropolitan Tower was also for a time home to a branch of Chase Bank. The space now houses a branch of CVS.

Metropolitan Tower in 2016

History edit

Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the Metropolitan Tower was named the Straus Building when completed in 1924. Though it was the first building in Chicago with 30 or more floors, it was never officially designated Chicago's tallest building since the Chicago Temple Building, also completed in 1924, is taller by 92 feet (28 m) but has seven fewer floors.[5] The Straus Building and the Chicago Temple Building were the first to take advantage of the 1923 zoning ordinance; before then, no building in Chicago could be taller than 260 feet (79 m).[6]

The Metropolitan Tower was at one time called the Continental National Insurance Company Building (later Continental Center I[7]). From 1980 to 2004 it was called the Britannica Building when that company was its tenant.[8]

Characteristics, past and present edit

This 30 story building, standing at 475 feet (145 m) in height, fronts Chicago's Michigan Avenue and Grant Park. The 40-foot (12 m) pyramid at the top of the building (which Schulze & Harrington, authors of Chicago's Famous Buildings, compare with the Tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus), with its new zinc-coated stainless steel sheathing, is peaked by a 20-foot (6 m) glass "beehive" ornament containing a blue glass box filled with six 1000-watt lightbulbs which emits a deep blue light, a prominent feature of Chicago's nighttime skyline.[2] The beehive is supported by four limestone bisons.[9] Because of this ornament, the building is sometimes referred to as the "Beehive Building."[2]

Just beneath the beehive are four carillon bells ranging in weight from 1,500 to 7,000 pounds, unused for many years until restored in 1979 for the Chicago visit of Pope John Paul II.[2] At one time, the bells chimed the well-known Cambridge Quarters on the quarter-hours. The base has been altered from its original design: rectangular window openings replaced giant arches on Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard. At one time, the thirtieth floor was the Straus Tower Observatory, which was open to the public for viewing the city.[2]

The original main entrance was a pair of elaborately carved bronze doors set in a marble portal flanked by bas-reliefs and used to be in the center of the east side, through the largest of the archways.[8]

In 2007, the building was converted into 234 condominium units. In 2009, the Metropolitan Tower won a "Best Adaptive Reuse" award from the Friends of Downtown, a planning and urban design organization for downtown Chicago.[10] Amenities include: 24 hour lobby and maintenance staff; on-site management staff; deeded indoor parking; Amazon package deliver lockers; contractors storage area for remodeling projects; two hotel type guest suites; workout facilities with sauna, steam, and showers; children's playroom; extra storage opportunities and imagination rooms; and a two story event/party room with adjacent access to a rooftop garden deck including an outdoor grill and dining area for entertaining guests, with views of Millennium Park and Navy Pier Fireworks.

Symbolism edit

The original owner of the Metropolitan Tower was S. W. Straus and Company, a dealer of investment bonds and one of the leading financers of major real estate in Chicago during the late 19th century and early 20th century.[8] The tower's crown has many symbols for characteristics the company wanted to portray. The pyramid symbolized longevity and permanence and the beehive stood for industry and thrift. When first installed, the beehive also contained four directional beacons, a metaphor for the company's global reach. The pyramid is supported by the four bisons, a traditional symbol for the American West. Straus was hoping to use these symbols to instill trust in their customers, to reassure them that their investments would be handled actively and carefully by an institution that could be trusted over the long term. Ironically, the firm failed during the Great Depression and closed fewer than ten years after lighting the beacon.[11]

Area edit

The Metropolitan Tower is located a block from the entrance to the Art Institute and is within two blocks of stations for all downtown CTA train lines. The Symphony Center, Millennium Park, Harold Washington Library, and the Lake Michigan shore are within a half mile. The south end of the Magnificent Mile shopping district is less than a mile away. Dozens of fine restaurants and other eateries are in the neighborhood, and Grant Park is across the street.[12]

Position in Chicago's skyline edit

Metropolitan Tower appears in front of Chase Tower (Chicago) in the diagram below.

 311 South WackerWillis TowerChicago Board of Trade Building111 South WackerAT&T Corporate CenterKluczynski Federal Building333 South WabashChase TowerThree First National PlazaMid-Continental PlazaRichard J. Daley CenterChicago Title and Trust Center77 West WackerPittsfield BuildingLeo Burnett BuildingThe Heritage at Millennium ParkCrain Communications BuildingIBM PlazaOne Prudential PlazaTwo Prudential PlazaAon CenterBlue Cross and Blue Shield Tower340 on the ParkPark TowerOlympia Centre900 North Michigan875 North Michigan AvenueWater Tower PlaceHarbor PointThe ParkshoreNorth Pier ApartmentsLake Point TowerJay Pritzker PavilionBuckingham FountainLake MichiganLake MichiganLake Michigan

References edit

  1. ^ "Britannica building to go condo". Chicago Business. Crain's. 2004-06-12. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nunn, Emily (2007-11-15). "Blue light special". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. pp. 5:1, 9. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  3. ^ . Development Details. Condodomain. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  4. ^ Chicago Magazine, January 2005
  5. ^ . Emporis. Emporis.com. 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  6. ^ Wolfe, Gerard R. (2004). Chicago In and Around the Loop; Walking Tours of Architecture and History (Second ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2007-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ a b c . Emporis. Emporis.com. 2007. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  9. ^ . Metropolitan Tower. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  10. ^ . Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  11. ^ (PDF). Exploring 66 on Foot: In the Loop, Where the Road Begins. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  12. ^ Google Earth

External links edit

  • Original floor plans from Architectural Forum (1924)


41°52′41.01″N 87°37′28.65″W / 41.8780583°N 87.6246250°W / 41.8780583; -87.6246250

January 01, 1970
metropolitan, tower, chicago, metropolitan, tower, skyscraper, located, michigan, avenue, chicago, historic, michigan, boulevard, district, loop, community, area, cook, county, illinois, united, states, developed, metropolitan, properties, chicago, been, renov. The Metropolitan Tower is a skyscraper located at 310 S Michigan Avenue in Chicago s Historic Michigan Boulevard District in the Loop community area in Cook County Illinois United States Developed by Metropolitan Properties of Chicago 1 it has been renovated as a condominium complex with 242 units 2 Residences range in size from 1 200 square feet 110 m2 to 4 000 square feet 370 m2 Penthouses feature 360 degree city views and private elevators 3 Prices run from 300 000 for a 762 square feet 70 8 m2 one bedroom unit to 1 365 million for a 1 932 square feet 179 5 m2 three bedroom 4 The Metropolitan Tower was also for a time home to a branch of Chase Bank The space now houses a branch of CVS Metropolitan Tower in 2016 Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics past and present 3 Symbolism 4 Area 5 Position in Chicago s skyline 6 References 7 External linksHistory editDesigned by Graham Anderson Probst amp White the Metropolitan Tower was named the Straus Building when completed in 1924 Though it was the first building in Chicago with 30 or more floors it was never officially designated Chicago s tallest building since the Chicago Temple Building also completed in 1924 is taller by 92 feet 28 m but has seven fewer floors 5 The Straus Building and the Chicago Temple Building were the first to take advantage of the 1923 zoning ordinance before then no building in Chicago could be taller than 260 feet 79 m 6 The Metropolitan Tower was at one time called the Continental National Insurance Company Building later Continental Center I 7 From 1980 to 2004 it was called the Britannica Building when that company was its tenant 8 Characteristics past and present editThis 30 story building standing at 475 feet 145 m in height fronts Chicago s Michigan Avenue and Grant Park The 40 foot 12 m pyramid at the top of the building which Schulze amp Harrington authors of Chicago s Famous Buildings compare with the Tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus with its new zinc coated stainless steel sheathing is peaked by a 20 foot 6 m glass beehive ornament containing a blue glass box filled with six 1000 watt lightbulbs which emits a deep blue light a prominent feature of Chicago s nighttime skyline 2 The beehive is supported by four limestone bisons 9 Because of this ornament the building is sometimes referred to as the Beehive Building 2 Just beneath the beehive are four carillon bells ranging in weight from 1 500 to 7 000 pounds unused for many years until restored in 1979 for the Chicago visit of Pope John Paul II 2 At one time the bells chimed the well known Cambridge Quarters on the quarter hours The base has been altered from its original design rectangular window openings replaced giant arches on Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard At one time the thirtieth floor was the Straus Tower Observatory which was open to the public for viewing the city 2 The original main entrance was a pair of elaborately carved bronze doors set in a marble portal flanked by bas reliefs and used to be in the center of the east side through the largest of the archways 8 In 2007 the building was converted into 234 condominium units In 2009 the Metropolitan Tower won a Best Adaptive Reuse award from the Friends of Downtown a planning and urban design organization for downtown Chicago 10 Amenities include 24 hour lobby and maintenance staff on site management staff deeded indoor parking Amazon package deliver lockers contractors storage area for remodeling projects two hotel type guest suites workout facilities with sauna steam and showers children s playroom extra storage opportunities and imagination rooms and a two story event party room with adjacent access to a rooftop garden deck including an outdoor grill and dining area for entertaining guests with views of Millennium Park and Navy Pier Fireworks Symbolism editThe original owner of the Metropolitan Tower was S W Straus and Company a dealer of investment bonds and one of the leading financers of major real estate in Chicago during the late 19th century and early 20th century 8 The tower s crown has many symbols for characteristics the company wanted to portray The pyramid symbolized longevity and permanence and the beehive stood for industry and thrift When first installed the beehive also contained four directional beacons a metaphor for the company s global reach The pyramid is supported by the four bisons a traditional symbol for the American West Straus was hoping to use these symbols to instill trust in their customers to reassure them that their investments would be handled actively and carefully by an institution that could be trusted over the long term Ironically the firm failed during the Great Depression and closed fewer than ten years after lighting the beacon 11 Area editThe Metropolitan Tower is located a block from the entrance to the Art Institute and is within two blocks of stations for all downtown CTA train lines The Symphony Center Millennium Park Harold Washington Library and the Lake Michigan shore are within a half mile The south end of the Magnificent Mile shopping district is less than a mile away Dozens of fine restaurants and other eateries are in the neighborhood and Grant Park is across the street 12 Position in Chicago s skyline editMetropolitan Tower appears in front of Chase Tower Chicago in the diagram below nbsp References edit Britannica building to go condo Chicago Business Crain s 2004 06 12 Retrieved 2007 11 15 a b c d e Nunn Emily 2007 11 15 Blue light special Chicago Tribune Tribune Company pp 5 1 9 Retrieved 2007 11 15 The Metropolitan Tower Development Details Condodomain 2006 Archived from the original on 2007 09 13 Retrieved 2007 11 15 Chicago Magazine January 2005 Chicago Temple Building Emporis Emporis com 2007 Archived from the original on December 14 2006 Retrieved 2007 11 15 Wolfe Gerard R 2004 Chicago In and Around the Loop Walking Tours of Architecture and History Second ed McGraw Hill Archived copy Archived from the original on 2007 09 11 Retrieved 2007 01 17 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b c Metropolitan Tower Emporis Emporis com 2007 Archived from the original on January 1 2007 Retrieved 2007 11 15 Metropolitan Tower Metropolitan Tower 2007 Archived from the original on 2007 10 08 Retrieved 2007 11 15 Friends of Downtown Archived from the original on July 23 2011 Retrieved September 23 2011 Metropolitan Tower PDF Exploring 66 on Foot In the Loop Where the Road Begins Archived from the original PDF on 2007 11 07 Retrieved 2007 11 15 Google EarthExternal links editOriginal floor plans from Architectural Forum 1924 41 52 41 01 N 87 37 28 65 W 41 8780583 N 87 6246250 W 41 8780583 87 6246250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metropolitan Tower Chicago amp oldid 1210053603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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