Merchant’s Insurance Building
Life Span: TBD-1871
Location: NW corner of LaSalle and Washington Streets
Architect:
Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1868
Merchants’ Insurance Building.
The building is to be constructed of Athens marble, with imposing fronts in the Florentine style. The outer walls will be remarkable for their bold and massive appearance. The structure will be surmounted with heavy stone cornices, with pediments and medallions and frieze ornaments. It will have two entrances on La Salle street and one on Washington street. The La Salle street front is to be 96 feet, and on Washington street there will be a frontage of 111 feet. The Washington street front will contain three offices on the first floor, and the La Salle street front will contain an office 38 by 72 feet on the first floor and in the basement. Each story will be very high, and the entire building will have a height of 81 feet. The halls will be easily accessible, airy, wide, and well provided as regards light and ventilation. The offices will be planned and furnished very completely, and each first floor office will have a fire-proof vault. Indeed, the whole structure will be fire-proof throughout, and constructed in all its details especially with a view to presenting a massive and imposing appearance. Its cost will be about $200,000.
Merchant’s Insurance Building
NW corner of LaSalle and Washington Streets
To the right are the Phoenix and Ætna Insurance Companies.
Merchant’s Insurance Building
NW corner of LaSalle and Washington Streets
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
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