Washington Block
| Washington Block | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | 40 North Wells Street |
| Town or city | Chicago |
| Country | United States |
| Opened | 1874 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Frederick and Edward Baumann |
Washington Block is a
facades and originally included an exterior staircase that led to a second-floor corner entrance. The lobby has a curving hardwood staircase.[1] Today the first floor is occupied by a 7-Eleven and the second floor occupied by Carter Legal Group PC.[2][3] The building, which is located at the corner of North Wells Street and West Washington Street is five stories tall.[4]
The building was originally intended to host upscale offices for companies wanting to be close to the nearby then-blossoming
Chicago 'L' was built next to the building, the upscale commercial customer found the building undesirable.[2] During the mid-1900s, the owner hammered off ground-level architectural details in order to modernize the storefronts.[2]
21st century owners have recast some of the details during a restoration.
The isolated pier technique uses several separate foundations, one at each of the load-bearing points underground. Thus, instead of using a single foundation that would crack as the building shifted on sandy soil, a building may be built on a much longer-lasting and sturdier foundation.[2] The Washington Block's foundation enabled it to be built on soft, compressible soil, instead of the solid bedrock formerly seen as a requirement.[2] This ability allowed skyscrapers to be built in places like Chicago, and many of them were.
Notes
- ^ a b c "Washington Block". City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division. 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Lee Bey (September 18, 2000). "Rebirth of Washington Block". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- Hearst Communications Inc.Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- Emporis.com. Retrieved July 31, 2008.[dead link]