Architecture Tours of Chicago

One of the most remarkably beautiful buildings along the Chicago River is the octogenarian at Wacker Drive and Wabash, the Jeweler's Building, or as it is now known just by its address, 35 East Wacker. The Jeweler's Building is highly ornamented, with a sort of neo-baroque feel to it. Clad in fire proof terra cotta, the Jeweler's Building is truly one of the Chicago River gems. There are exquisite details everywhere you look. Note the massive clock on the northeast corner of the building, similar to those seen on the Marshall Field's building, but with darker detailing. It was also the first major office building to be constructed on the stretch of Wacker Drive from Wabash to where the river splits north and south. In the photograph below, note how the construction of the Jeweler's Building occurred simultaneously with the construction of the double decked Wacker Drive. 

The structure of this building is typical to others of the early twentieth century in Chicago architecture. It is described as a square donut, essentially there was a massive atrium built down the center of the building. Another well known building of this type is the Railway Exchange building on Michigan Avenue near the Art Institute. These square donut buildings were created so that the interior offices would have more light and for additional ventilation. However, with the Jeweler's Building, a tower of an additional seventeen stories was placed upon the main block of twenty-four stories, thus blocking out the effective use of the atrium. An elevator was put into building -not just a regular passenger elevator, but a monstrous elevator intended for carrying vehicles. The Jeweler's Building was named for the jewelry retailers that occupied the site, and as a security precaution, the jewelry retailers could drive their vehicles into lower Wacker Drive, drive into the elevator, and they could take the elevator up and park on their respective floors, it was genius. However, this elevator was only in use until 1940, at which point it was removed and replaced with a smaller, passenger elevator. The entire top floor of the main block had to be dedicated to a mechanical room for the elevator as it often broke down and was difficult to maintain. 

The crowning belvedere that marks the top of the building was originally designed as a nightclub known as the Stratosphere, and for a time it was one of Al Capone's speakeasies. The only access to the belvedere was via elevator, so if the police ever tried to raid the Stratosphere, they were able to lock the elevator shaft, essentially locking themselves into the club. The belvedere is now an architectural studio for famed post modern architect Helmut Jahn, the designer of the Thompson Center. Look just above the main block of the building and you will also notice massive urns on each corner of the structure. While no longer functional, these urns originally stored water in the case of a fire breaking loose in the building. The water could be released to help contain the fire. 

Chicago Daily News Archives Photograph 127471