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.—132 Clark nw. cor. Madison.

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 That will permit of only ten stories, and unless the present ordinance is repealed or amended the building will stop at the tenth story.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.

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.

The Oliver Typewriter Company had their offices in this building from 1896-1907, before they moved into their own building.

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, 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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