Imagine if these walls could talk. The Heyworth Building at 29 East Madison Street has witnessed over a century of Chicago history. It stands on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue.
The Heyworth Building was completed in 1904. Otto Young commissioned D. H. Burnham & Company to design it. Young was a wholesale jeweler and real estate investor. He named the Heyworth Building after his son-in-law, Lawrence Heyworth. Lawrence also oversaw its construction.
Frederick P. Dinkelberg designed the Heyworth Building. He was working for Burnham’s firm at the time. Dinkelberg also designed the Railway Exchange Building and New York’s Flatiron Building.
The Heyworth Building is nineteen stories high. It has a gross square footage of 256000. Its architecture blends Chicago School elements with traditional masonry. This gives it a unique, decorative look. The Heyworth’s ornament complements Louis Sullivan’s work on the adjacent Sullivan Center.
Historically, the Heyworth Building housed jewelers and watchmakers. Many similar businesses were also here. Wabash Avenue was a hub for these trades.
The Heyworth Building stands out for its cornice. It is rare among Chicago’s commercial buildings because it is intact and finely crafted. It showcases the quality of early 20th-century craftsmanship.
The Heyworth Building was designated a Chicago Landmark on September 27, 2000. This recognizes its historical and architectural significance.
In 2001, the Heyworth Building underwent an $11 million renovation. The facade was cleaned. The cornice was rebuilt.
Real estate firms list varying heights for the building. These range from 260 to 282 feet.
One of Chicago’s finest storefronts is at 23 E. Madison St. It was designed in 1917 for O’Connor & Goldberg Shoes.
Today, the Heyworth Building houses educational institutions. These include the Computer Systems Institute and MacCormac College. The Center for Economic Progress is also here.
The Heyworth Building remains a significant landmark. It represents Chicago’s architectural evolution. Its blend of styles makes it a unique and valuable piece of the city’s history. The Heyworth Building is an enduring reminder of Chicago’s golden age of commercial architecture.