Patten Building

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Patten Building, Chicago City College
Life Span: 1902-1939
Location: SW Corner Harrison and Sherman
Architect: Christian A. Eckstorm

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Faithorn Printing Building.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1906
Patten Bldg.—158 to 164 Harrison

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1907
Patten Bldg..—158 to 164 Harrison

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Patten Bldg.—161 W Harrison
Faithorn Co J N Faithorn pres; W E Faithorn mngr; printers 500 Sherman

Fireproof Magazine, September, 1904

The Patten building, in the above list, owned by James A. Patten, will exceed all the others as an illustration of how best to erect a fireproof building. It will be used for mercantile purposes and will have absolutely nothing combustible in its construction and finish. And yet it might be incombustible and not be fireproof. But in this case the incombustible steel used as a skeleton throughout is everywhere protected from corrosion and fire with porous tile, which also is the material of all its floor arches. It is twelve stories, or 168 feet, high, and every floor will be finished with cement laid directly on the tile arches. Every window frame and sash will be of metal, and all the windows exposed in any way to an exterior fire risk will be glazed with wired glass. One side fronts on the right of way of a railroad, which is very wide.

Fireproof Magazine, October, 1904

The Patten Building at Chicago
In Fireproof Magazine for September (page 6) we mentioned the Patten building at Chicago, now being constructed from the plans of Christian A. Eckstorm, architect, as one which will exceed all others therein referred to as an illustration of how best to erect a fireproof building. But we did not say that the experience of the owner and architect, in placing the contracts for the same, had discovered that even hard concrete reinforced floor construction does not eliminate enough steel to bring the ultimate cost of the building below that of standard steel and hollow tile construction. On the contrary, they found that the latter system is cheaper.

The owner of this building was strongly inclined to use reinforced concrete for the floors throughout. In order to ascertain if there would be economy in this system the architect prepared two sets of steel plans and specifications, one as required for concrete spans of 16½ feet and the other providing for intermediate I-beams to carry hollow tile arches in the opposite direction with spans of five feet. In all other respects the steel construction and fireproofing were to be the same. Competitive bids were received from steel contractors and fireproofers according to both sets of plans and specifications, and, the result showing that the ultimate cost of the building would be $2,729 less by using standard steel and tile construction, Mr. Patten decided to use that system. The details of the bidding are set forth in the following letter, over the signature of Mr. Eckstorm, the architect of the building:

We present for illustration copies of the two original plans of the first two floors, which were used in taking bids for the steel construction. The principal difference between these plans is in the omission of the intermediate I-beams in those prepared for proposals for concrete floors. The specifications for concrete forbid the use of cinders, and consequently called for the best that could be made.

The perspective view of the building is from the architect’s drawing.

em>Chicago Tribune, May 9, 1909

Patten Building.
S. W. Cor Sherman and Harrison-sts.
The main floor of this fireproof building will now be divided into small stores or entire floor of 11,000 square feet will be let to one tenant.

Chicago Tribune, March 12, 1915

Patten Building Lease.
Fred J. Phillips of Oliver & Co. has leased to the Crescent Engraving company the entire sixth floor of the Patten building at the southwest corner of Harrison and Sherman streets at a term rent of approximately $45,000.

Chicago Tribune, August 15, 1915

UNIVERSITY CLUB SALE TO PATTEN, WEEK’S BIG DEAL
Fair Amount of Small Transactions, but Only One Noteworthy Purchase.
James A. Patten’s purchase of the fee of the University club’s property at the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Monroe streets from the International Harvester company was the one bright spot in an otherwise dull week in which commonplace transactions made up the bulk of the business. There was a fair amount as to quantity, but a decided lack of really noteworthy deals.

Mr. Patten’s purchase was of special interest not only because of the important character of the property, it having been regarded for a long time as one of the choicest fees in the downtown district, but also because of the substantial evidence which it affords of Mr. Patten’s confidence in high class Chicago real estate as an investment proposition. The consideration was $934,555, an interesting feature being that it was all cash.

Under Lease for 198 Years.
The lot, which fronts 68 feet on the avenue, with a depth of 171 feet on Monroe street, is under lease for & term of 19% years to the University club at an annual rental of $35,000 for the next two years, $40,000 for the succeeding ten years, and $45,000 for the remainder of the term.

The building a fifteen story, fireproof structure, is one of the most attractive buildings in the downtown district. It was erected in 1907 at a cost of over $1,100,000, and was valued by the board of review at $940,800. The purchase nets Mr. Patten 4½ per cent.

The purchase makes Mr. Patten one of the largest individual holders of Michigan avenue frontage, his other buildings comprising 120 feet of frontage facing Grant park in the block between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, as well as 126 feet of frontage at the northwest corner of Fourteenth street. They represent an investment of considerably over $2,000,000.

The sale of the University club property was negotiated by Oliver & Co., who represented Mr. Patten, and by Wilfred B. Langmore of James A. MeLane & Co.. who represented the International Harvester company.

Other Big Downtown Holdings.
Mr. Patten is also the owner of several pieces of high class improved business property in the vicinity of Van Buren and Harrison, Sherman and Polk streets, having a conservative valuation of between $2,500,000 and $3,000,000. One is the Printers building, at the northwest corner of Sherman and Polk streets, an eight story and basement structure on a lot 212×100 feet, declared by experts to be the finest building of its kind in the country.

He is also the owner of the Patten building at the southwest corner of Harrison and Sherman streets, a twelve story structure on a lot 100×120 feet, and the Faithorn Printing building on Sherman street between Van Buren and Harrison streets. All these buildings were erected by Mr. Patten.

The 120 feet of frontage on Michigan avenue opposite Grant park is improved with a two story white tile front building containing six stores on the ground floor and oftices above. The Fourteenth street corner is improved with a one story building containing five stores.

The legal end of the transaction in connection with the purchase of the University club building fee was attended to by Joseph F. Paden in behalf of Mr. Patten, while the personal representative of the International Harvester company throughout the negotiations was George A. Ranney, secretary of the company.

Chicago Tribune, April 16, 1939

Two Patten Buildings in Sherman St. to Be Razed High taxes and inability to earn enough to carry the properties are given as reasons for razing the eight and six story buildings at 618-34 South Sherman street. Once owned by the late James A. Patten, grain operator, they are now the property of his son, John Patten. The Star Wrecking company has the general contract to remove the two buildings.

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