Chicago, IL: 1928 Carbide and Carbon Building

(Satellite, 139+ photos)

This building shows up in many of the photos in London Guarantee and Accident Building.

Zachary Taylor Davis - Chicago Architect posted

Carbide and Carbon Building, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, in the early 1930s (1928, Burnham Bros).

In 1927, developer Henry Paschen leased the site at the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and East South Water Street for ninety-five years. Zachary Taylor Davis designed a twenty-nine story Gothic skyscraper to be constructed at that location. One year later Paschen sold the leases, and in 1928 the now iconic Carbide & Carbon was built instead.
Mike Esposito Associated Press once had its Chicago bureau in that building. As a young newsroom clerk, back when emailed photos were sci-fi dreams, I spent many nights running between Tribune Tower and the C&C Building fetching photos on deadline. (This wasn’t so long ago; It’s not as if Mr. DuSable waved to me as I canoed across the river or anything.)

Todd Protzman Davis shared
Michael Palton Pantaliono I worked for Union Carbide before I went into the Army @ Riverside Plaza; I've been up in the Penthouse Office, 360 degree view, WOW; The Hard Rock bought in some years back as a hotel; don't know if it is still open...
Douglas Smith Michael Palton Pantaliono it’s now the St. Jane Hotel.
Irvin Galloway It seems to me that the important point here is that the lease is about to expire.

3D Satellite

Todd commented on his share
Here’s the accompanying photo from the archives, which is identified as 1930.

Patrick McNamara commented on Todd's share
At sunrise, you can appreciate the fact it is constructed of green granite, which looks black during the times it is not brightly illuminated. R. E. Segal photo......
[Fascinating. I always thought of it as the black building. Actually: The first three stories are polished black granite; the balance of the building will be faced with dark green terra cotta, which various lighter shades worked into the design. Gold faced terra cotta will be interpolated with the green to emphasize certain decorative features. These will be flood-lighted." [Chicagology]]

David Daruszka posted
IC Alco HH660 locomotive 9010 switching at the South Water Street market. The locomotive was built in 1935 and scrapped in 1951. The Carbide and Carbon building is the tall building in the center of the photo.

One of four photos by Eric Allix Rogers from ChicagoArchitecture
"The Carbide and Carbon Company, which developed the first dry cell battery, needed a regional headquarters to house its rapidly expanding business. Company executives wanted the building to make a statement, to communicate the firm's success and to attract clients. They commissioned the Burnham Brothers (sons of the deceased Daniel Burnham), who completed the structure in 1929. A dazzling building on Chicago’s skyline, the Carbide and Carbon Building epitomizes the lavish excitement of Art Deco. The facade is composed of luxurious polished black granite, green and gold terra cotta and gold leaf with bronze trim. The building’s interior is known for its extravagant lobby, originally used to display the company’s products. Frosted glass fixtures and Belgian marble greet visitors at its Michigan Avenue entrance. The building’s cap is ornamented with genuine 24 karat gold, though it is only one five-thousandths of an inch thick. Bronze trim extends from the tip of the spire to the ground level."