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| Home :: Building Database :: Extras :: Forum :: Search :: Map | You are here  Architecture  Chicago Gold Coast 60611
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| Home :: Building Database :: Extras :: Forum :: Search :: Map | You are here Architecture Chicago Gold Coast 60611
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 Photograph © Wayne Lorentz |
919 North Michigan Avenue
919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, Gold Coast 60611 United States Print this page • 
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The former Palmolive and Playboy building is an Art Moderne triumph. A flat blade of a building rising into the air with dignity, power, and presence that once put it on par with New York’s Empire State Building. The building is similar to the LaSalle-Wacker building, but more streamlined with vertical channels running up the façade, reinforcing its height. This was unnecessary for most of the tower’s early life. At the time it was completed, it was well outside the skyscraper forest sprouting in The Loop. Erected in the then-tranquil Gold Coast neighborhood, the Palmolive Building far exceeded any of its neighbors in height. And at the summit of this mass of steel and stone was an illuminated beacon. This was a more common feature on Chicago skyscrapers in the early 20th century than it is now. It is debated whether this was intended to aid air or sea traffic, though some say it was known as the “Lindbergh Beacon,” and named after famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. The light, estimated to be 2,000,000,000 candlepower, was extinguished as neighboring buildings grew taller, much to the relief of people who live in them. Quick Facts
Notes
»1942 – The beacon is turned off for fear that it might be used for navigation by invading forces during the Second World War. »1944 – The beacon is turned on again. »1967 – The building is renamed the Playboy Building. »1968 – Metal shields are erected to keep the beacon from lighting up apartments in the neighboring Hancock Center at night. »1981 – The beacon at the top of this building is turned off. »1989 – The building is renamed 919 North Michigan Avenue. »1990 – The beacon is replaced by a globe with a soft glow. The original beacon was donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Did You Know?
Rate This Skyscraper method='post' action='/Building.php?ID=1026#Rate'>Current rating:  80% name='Rating' id='Rating' value='Praise' class='Plain'> name='Rating' id='Rating' value='Raze' class='Plain'>Your Thoughts There are four comments.
Karl Kropp - Monday, November 26th, 2007 @ 9:57am
kirby cruz - Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:33pm
lloyd pearcey - Thursday, May 11th, 2006 @ 11:09pm
mike margolis - Sunday, February 12th, 2006 @ 2:18am |
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My grandfather installed the terracotta at the top while working for Cold Spring Granit in the '20's. I walked past this building never knowing it until recently reading my dad's notes. Now to see if there are any pictures of the original construction that my grandfather may have taken.
is there anyone out there that can accurately identify the artist responsible for the art deco icons that run up the recessed panels of this grand old building when playboy gutted the first two stories of this building in the early 70's i was exiting a cab in front of the building and saved a phenomenal piece of art deco iron that was being cast into a dumpster. I beleive it was the work of hugh erris but cannot get any answers from anyone at draper kramer, palmolive or anyone affiliated with the recent restoration. i beleive i have one of the cornerstone cast iron colonettes that adorned the entrance of the building. the restoration effort has not addressed the missing nickle plated 2 ft X 2ftart deco icons, i have begun casting stone reproductions of this icon and would reward anyone who can produce any photos of the buildings 1st two floors that show the original artwork as it was on the cornerstones of this building the icons that run up the building every other floor are a generic version of the more detailed deco piece of iron that i have i beleive they are terra cotta.someone claim the reward so i can add providence to my fabulous piece of deco artwork that no one else can claim to have.
