Chicago, IL: 1969 Chase Tower/First National Bank Building

If you are here because of "Hallett Tower: AA+PM vs. Toledo Terminal," then you need to go there.

(Satellite)

Street View, Aug 2021

Kajal Chauhan posted

Original photographic image of first national bank of chicago under construction. perkins & will, c.f. murphy associates, architects. completed in 1969. 

Image taken by chicago architectural photographing company, chicago, il. 

courtesy of bldg. 51 archive!

Beth Kalov: I think this is my favorite building in the city. I always loved the upward sweep of the lines. And, OMG, the Marc Chagall wall in the plaza! And where 'buildings' intersect with 'people', this one has a beautiful, intimate theater as well as direct access to the Blue Line subway (as in designed for multi-use and public transportation.) I loved my FNBC checks with that Chicago skyline.

Judith McGee: Beth Kalov No matter how busy I was at work I tried to get outside and walk the perimeter of Chase Bank and by the Four Seasons Chagall mosaic. Never visited the theatre - maybe one day I shall.

Judith McGee: What is the building at the edge of the picture that became Bank One Plaza?

James McKay: Judith McGee the previous First National Bank of Chicago building.

Some of the buildings in Chicago have basically a concrete slab for their "plaza." It is nice to see that something better can be done for a plaza.

Jason Cadell, Dec 2023

I don't remember much from the 1970s, but I do remember something about this building. I heard it, rather than read it. I'm guessing I heard it from an architecture tour guide. Bank buildings have difficult requirements because the ground floor should be wide to accommodate a lot of tellers whereas the office floors should be skinny so that most of the offices have a window. This building beautifully meets those requirements with its curved supports.

DARRYL WHITE, Dec 2021

This is the only building I can think of where the architecture principle of "form follows function" produced a beautiful building.

Marcelo Fonseca Barbosa, Oct 2024

I also remember on another trip downtown that I stood at the base of one of those center pillars and looked up. Fortunately, I found a photo of that view. You don't get the effect from this photo, but in real life your peripheral vision sees just this building. Without surrounding buildings to provide a context, the brain goes bananas. It not only thinks the building is bending over you, I kept wanting to put a leg behind me because I felt off balance. I had to rather quickly quit looking up to avoid motion sickness.

Yuta Kaan, Mar 2021

Bill Molony posted via Dennis DeBruler

New York Central EMD E8A #4081, leading Penn Central train #366 to Detroit out of La Salle Street Station on the evening of October 26, 1968.

This was the very last Penn Central passenger train to depart from La Salle Street Station.
Bill Downes And puts a date on final construction of First National Bank bldg in background.

Bill Molony shared a link via Dennis DeBruler
Dearborn Station - 1967.
[Comment summary: in addition to w the four black & orange GTW locos, there is a black & yellow C&W Alco RS-1 and a EL E8 hiding behind the right two GTW locos.]
Christopher N. Kaufmann: Without the later skyscrapers you can see the Lakeside Press to the right of Dearborn stn, Pittsfield bldg on Washington, Prudential on Randolph, and Straus bldg on Michigan.
Matt McClure: Christopher N. Kaufmann And before First National Bank of Chicago was finished the next year (1968).
Christopher N. Kaufmann: Matt McClure Yes, that bank was at this block since the 1870s I believe. Before the bank, in the 1850s the Dyer and Boone medical offices were there. Levi Boone founded the Chicago Medical Society and was later Mayor of Chicago.