New York Life Insurance Building, Chicago

For other uses, see New York Life Insurance Building (disambiguation).

New York Life Insurance Building
(1900)
General information
StatusCompleted
LocationChicago, Illinois
Coordinates41°52′53.2″N 87°37′56.2″W / 41.881444°N 87.632278°W / 41.881444; -87.632278
Completed1894
Technical details
Floor count14
Design and construction
Architect(s)William Le Baron Jenney
DesignatedJuly 26, 2006

The New York Life Insurance Building is a 14-story building at 39 South LaSalle Street in the Loop neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. Designed by William Le Baron Jenney, it was completed as a 12-story structure in 1894 at a cost of $800,000, equivalent to $28,172,308 in 2023.[1] In 1898, Jenney designed a 92 ft (28 m) addition to the east of the original structure. This expanded the Monroe Street facade to 233 ft (71 m). The addition contained 13 floors and an additional floor was added to the first structure. The expansion also added an entrance on Monroe Street and enlarged the lobby. In 1903, a fourteenth floor was added bring the building to its current height.[2]

The building is faced with brick and terra cotta trim in the classical style. Prior to the additions, a cornice and parapet encircled the top, however these were removed to accommodate the expansion. The lobby retains its Georgia gray marble cladding and mosaic tile floor. Light fixtures are deco and appear to be from the 1920s.[2]

The building received preliminary landmark status in 2002,[3] but in 2006, Preservation Chicago considered the building one of Chicago's most threatened.[4] In June of that year a company submitted an application to the Chicago Plan Commission including plans to renovate the structure and build 29 South LaSalle, an adjacent 51 story office building.[5][6] Later that month, the building was declared an official Chicago landmark,[7] amended in 2009.[8]

In August 2014, KHP Capital Partners announced it purchased the structure and would convert it to a 293-room Kimpton hotel that will include a rooftop restaurant, meeting rooms, and retail space. The hotel, officially named The Kimpton Gray Hotel, opened in 2016.[9]

Gallery

  • Under construction
    Under construction
  • Street view from the west (2012)
    Street view from the west (2012)
  • Street view from the northwest (2011)
    Street view from the northwest (2011)

See also

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Landmark Designation Report: New York Life Building" (PDF). City of Chicago. June 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  3. ^ "LaSalle-Monroe Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "The New York Life Insurance Building" (PDF). Preservation Chicago. 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Chicago Plan Commission Agenda for June 15, 2006, Chicago Plan Commission (2006).
  6. ^ "Chicago commercial office space for lease, commercial property for sale, office space rental, retail real estate services, warehouse property for lease, 1031 exchange". Trade Addresses Chicago. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
  7. ^ "New York Life Building". City of Chicago. 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting Commission On Chicago Landmarks" (PDF). City of Chicago. June 4, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  9. ^ Ruminski, Bill (August 19, 2014). "Kimpton plans hotel for Chicago's New York Life Building". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.

External links