Chicago’s economic engine hums behind these walls. This is McCormick Place. It’s more than just a convention center. McCormick Place is the largest in North America. It stands as a testament to Chicago’s resilience and ambition.
Let’s step back in time. It was the late 1950s. Chicago needed a modern convention facility. Robert R. McCormick of the Chicago Tribune championed the idea. Construction began in 1958. The original McCormick Place opened in November 1960. It was named in honor of McCormick after his death in 1955.
Tragedy struck in January 1967. A devastating fire destroyed the exposition hall. The building was thought to be fireproof. However, highly combustible exhibits and other failures led to its destruction. Security guard Kenneth Goodman lost his life.
Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley decided to rebuild on the same site. The new design was striking. It featured dark steel and glass. The East Building opened in January 1971. It is now called the Lakeside Center.
McCormick Place continued to grow. The North Building opened in 1986. An enclosed pedestrian bridge connects it to the Lakeside Center. The South Building followed in 1996. It more than doubled the complex’s size. McCormick Place became the largest convention center in the nation. The West Building opened in 2007. It brought the total exhibit space to 2.67 million square feet. In 2017, Wintrust Arena joined the McCormick Place family.
McCormick Place has adapted to meet the times. In 2020, part of the complex transformed into a 3000-bed hospital to address the COVID-19 crisis. In 2024, McCormick Place Lakeside Center installed bird-safe film on its windows. This followed an incident where nearly 1000 birds died after colliding with the building. The polka-dotted windows reduced bird collisions by over 95%.
Today, McCormick Place hosts major events. These include the Chicago Auto Show and the International Home and Housewares Show. It also hosts the National Restaurant Association Annual Show. The International Manufacturing Technology Show is here too.
Getting here is easy. Public transportation options abound. The CTA’s bus and “L” systems serve McCormick Place. Metra trains stop at an eponymous station underneath. The McCormick Place Busway provides a direct route to downtown.
As you stand here, consider the events that have unfolded within these walls. Deals struck. Innovations unveiled. Memories created. McCormick Place continues to evolve. It adapts to the needs of a changing world. It remains a vital part of Chicago. It is a place where commerce, culture, and community converge.