Atwood Building

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Atwood Block, Straus Building
Life Span: 1896-1941
Location: 6 N. Clark Street, NW corner Clark & Madison
Architect: Holabird & Roche

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899

Atwood Bldg.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Atwood Bldg—Clark nw. cor. Madison.
Atwood Frederick M clothing Madison nw cor Clark h. 4921 Madison

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1907
Atwood Bldg.—132 Clark nw. cor. Madison.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Atwood Bldg.—See Straus Bldg.
Straus Bldg.—6 N. Clark.

Occupied the same space as the C.O.D. Block.

Chicago Tribune, March 26, 1895

TO ERECT A HANDSOME STRUCTURE.
F. M. Atwood to Put Up a Thirteen Story Store end Office Building.
F. M. Atwood has had plans drawn for a thirteen-story store and office building to occupy the northwest corner of Clark and Madison streets. and work under these plans will begin May 1. Mr. Atwood holds leases for three pieces of property on the corner and adjoining on the north, which have ninety-four years to run. The property held under these leases has a frontage of sixty-three feet on Clark street and eighty feet on Madison street, and the new building will cover this property. All arrangements have been made for the tearing down of the present buildings, beginning May 1, and by Oct. 1 Mr. Atwood expects to have the building far enough along towards completion to move into the first floor.

Under the present building ordinances a building may be constructed not to exceed 130 feet from the street level to the roof line. That will permit of only ten stories, and unless the present ordinance is repealed or amended the building will stop at the tenth story. The plans have been prepared by Holabird Roche. The design shows an attractive completed structure with the main floor, the second and third floors designect for mercantile purposes. The building is to be of steel and tile of the most modern construction. The first three stories are to be of dark terra-cotta and the seven above of fawn colored brick. There are bay windows which begin at the fourth floor and run to the tenth floor on Clark street and Madison street.

Top Stories of White Terra-Cotta.
All the girders and columns, together with the foundation, are to be constructed with a view to the addition of the three upper floors if a change is made in the building ordinance which will permit it. If these are built they will be of white terra cotta.

The first floor and the two floors above it are to have large plate-glass windows. The entrance to the store will be on the corner, which is cut off, and the entrance to the stairs and elevators will be on the Clark street front, adjoining the north wall. The basement is to be fitted up with a view to its being leased for business purposes, and there will be an entrance to this from each front. The cost of the building is estimated at $250,000.

The offices will be oak finished, floors will be of mosaic or marble tile, the halls will be wainscoted with blue-veined marble, the iron staircases will have marble treads, four speedy elevators will be run for the accommodation of the offices, and two additional elevators will accommodate the merchandising on the second and third stories, if the departments of the clothing business should decide to occupy them.

The entrance to the upper part of the building will be ornamented by polished granite columns, as will also the corner entrance of the store and the main entrance to the basement on the Madison street frontage. The building will be lighted by incandescent electric lights, with reserve supply of gas fixtures for emergencies.

Mr. Atwood holds a lease to the adjoining eighty feet on Madison street, having a depth of 180 feet. This is now occupied by his store in addition to the corner. During the construction of the new building this property will be occupied by the entire business of the clothing house run by Mr. Atwood.

Inter Ocean, October 13, 1895

Proposed Amendment of the City Building Ordinance.
The completion of the Atwood Building at the northwest corner of Clark and Madison streets is as strong an argument as could be desired in favor of increasing the height allowable in fire-proof structures under the city ordinance to at least 160 feet.

This fine block, on one of the best corners in the city, looks like a pigmy when contrasted with its neighbors of the present era It is well known that Mr. Atwood desired to build up to a height of thirteen stories. He expects in the future to do what he cannot in the present, looking forward to the time when the present ordinance will be a dead letter.

At the time the measure passed before the Council the subject was thoroughly discussed. It was thought by all interested, including owners and architects, that some stated height should be fixed upon, above which no building should be allowed to go. At a meeting at the Union League Club, largely attended by representative citizens, 160 feet was decided upon as best meeting all the requirements of the case. This, it was said, would suit the Council, and meet the desires of those owning property outside of the business district. The ordinance was prepared naming this height, but when it was read before the vote was taken, the change was made to 130 feet. In spite of objections it was passed as read.

In the general discussion of the measure it transpired that eminent counsel was of the opinion that the courts would not uphold its legality. It is an oppressive and unequal law. No distinction is made between wide and narrow streets. The height of 130 feet arbitrarily fixed applies to State street at its greatest width equally with Fourth avenue at its narrowest point. The height allowable to slow-burning mill construction is 100 feet, the difference between modern fire-proof structures and these that are inflammable being thirty feet.

Under these circumstances, Chicago has become the laughing-stock of the country. This city, the birthplace of the magnificent system known as modern fireproof office-building construction, is the first to disavow its own production.

The ordinance must be amended, or else, in all probability, before the courts it will be annulled. Nobody desires to have the general question of a building limit debated over again. It is allowed on all sides there should be a height fixed, beyond which no one can go. To save the city from architectural monstrosities, it would be far better that the Council amend the ordinance, fixing on a proper height, with relation to width of streets and other considerations, than that the measure be set aside entirely.

For this and from knowledge of the law’s delay, owners have refrained from instituting a test case.

W. L. B. Jenney, the father of modern office-building construction, said yesterday to a reporter for The Inter Ocean:

I have talked with a number of interested parties, owners, architects, and others. There is no doubt but that it would be an easy matter to commence such a suit. But it is not desirable that the question should be settled in this way. Far better to amend the ordinance. Why not?. If owners are to be limited to ten stories the erection of modern office buildings must cease. The greater profit from ordinary construction- will induce people to make cheap improvements, and the pre-eminence of Chicago in this direction will be lost.

Several months ago, when The Inter Ocean announced the revival of discussion of this topic, focused at that particular point of time by the erection of the Atwood Building, public sentiment was sounded, and it was recognized that “something would be done” soon. At present it appears that not much longer will property interests be allowed to languish, if agitation will show the Council the need of action. Meetings will be called, the opinions of those at the head of the administration sought, and the matter forced before the local governing body. Then, in the event of failure, appeal will be made to the courts.

Chicago Central Business and Office Guide, 1908

ATWOOD BUILDING
Clark Street, Northwest Corner Madison
Situated on the northwest corner of Clark and Madison streets, is in the heart of the business center. Is ten stories high and of fireproof construction throughout. Offices are handsomely finished, and the halls are of marble and mosaic. It is convenient to all lines of transportation. Only one block from City Hall and Court House, and near to banking center.

The offices are well lighted and ventilated. Excellent janitor and elevator service.

Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1910

CHANGE IN STRUCTURE’S NAME.
Owners, Who Will Take Possession of Abroad Block, to Call It Straus Building.
After Aug. 1 the present Atwood building at the northwest corner of dark and Madison streets will be known as the Straus building after S. W. Straus & Co.. the owners, who will take possession at that time and begin alterations converting the first floor into small shops. The corner store fronting 31 feet on Madison street has been leased to the Leon Royal Blue shoe store at a term rent of $180,000 and it will be one of the most attractive corners in the city. The west store, with 16 feet frontage, has been leased to Howard Lewis for a buffet at a term rent of $81,500. There will remain two stores for lease.

S. W. Straus & Co. will also convert the entire second floor into banking quarters for their own occupancy, and it is expected ail the work will be completed by Sent.1.

Chicago Tribune, August 28, 1910

Changes Improve Structure
The Straus building, until recently known as the Atwood, has assumed an improved appearance with the several changes it bas recently undergone.

The ground floor has been subdivided into three stores which have all been leased and will be tenanted Sept. 1. As previously announced, the Leon Shoe company will occupy the corner.

The center store, covering a frontage on Madison street of thirty-two feet, will be occupied by the Atwood Clothing shop. Anderson & Brothers, recent managers of the old Atwood store, will represent the Rogers Peet & Co. clothing in Chicago. They have taken this store for a term lease at a yearly rental of $12,000, and purpose to make this a popular men’s shop.

Howard Lewis will occupy the west store S. W. Straus & Co. expect to move into their new offices some time in September. The entire second floor is being rapidly fitted for their occupancy

Chicago Tribune, November 13, 1910

S. W. Straus & Co. will move into their new quarters on the bank floor of the Straus building at Madison and Clark streets, tomorrow. They will occupy the entire floor and will have a large and exceedingly well appointed office. For fifteen years the firm has been located at 114-116 La Salle street, in the Stock Exchange building.

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