Counselman Building
Life Span: 1884-1920
Location: NW corner of S. LaSalle and W. Jackson
Architect: Burnham & Root
Inland Architect, April, 1884
The Counselman Building.
That Chicago, through her architects, is acquiring a complement of office structures that are not surpassed in any other city, is evidenced by those lately built, illustrations and descriptions of which appear in these pages. The latest building of prominence to near completion is the ten-story structure, by architects Burnham & Root, for Chas. Counselman. The lot is 46 by 60, and for this comparatively small area of ground the architects have planned a building that can be called a model in every sense of the term. The exterior is of rock faced Jonesboro rose granite to the second story, with Anderson pressed brick and terra-cotta ornamentation above. The extreme simplicity of the exterior design is in accordance with the disposition of our best architects to dispense with all superfluous projections, whether for ornament or otherwise, and seek effect in strength and massiveness and utility in giving all possible advantage to the lighting of the interior. This, in the Counselman building, is carried out in a high degree. But aside from its excellent interior arrangements, it is in the absolute fireproof character of this structure that its chief value lies, and not alone in this particular structure, but in all those recently projected, this feature has largely entered, and though in many cases, in not so thorough a degree as in the Counselman. The entire ironwork in columns, beams, girders, vault linings, etc., is covered with porous tile, the floor arches are of eight-inch hollow tile, the partitions of three and a half inch hollow tile, the roof and suspended ceilings under the same are of this material, while the bases, etc., are of Portland and Keene’s cement, and the roof is covered with glazed flat tile laid in cement. The stairways are of iron, and in its entirety this building is as non-combustible as a building can be made. Situated as it will be, surrounded by the Board of Trade building, the Royal Insurance building, and other structures equally high, if not higher, the design of the building is singularly well adapted to the location, and confers great credit upon the architects
Inland Architecture
April, 1884
Counselman Building
Rand McNally’s Bird’s Eye Views of Chicago, 1893
⑧ The Counselman Building.
Occupying but 56 feet on La Salle and 60 on Jackson Street, stands almost at the door of the Board of Trade. It is all steel inside; 9 stories and basement, 145 feet high, and has 7S offices. There are 2 elevators and 300 occupants—grain and insurance men. The building was erected in 1884 and cost $325,000.
Counselman Building
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
Counselman Building
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906
It was removed in 1920 along with the Gaff, Mallers, Counselman,and Royal Insurance buildings for the Federal Reserve Bank.
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