About the Manhattan Building Chicago

Located at 431 S Dearborn Street, the Manhattan Building is a 16-story landmark at the southern edge of Chicago's Printer's Row neighborhood. Designed by architect William Le Baron Jenney and constructed from 1889 to 1891, it is widely recognized as the oldest surviving skyscraper in the world built with a purely skeletal steel supporting structure — the engineering breakthrough that made modern tall buildings possible.

Today the Manhattan Building operates as a 105-unit residential condominium building, with layouts ranging from studios to three-bedroom residences, giving residents the chance to live inside a genuine piece of skyscraper history.

Manhattan Building History

The Manhattan Building Chicago was built for the Manhattan Building Company and completed in 1891, reaching what was then a startling height of 16 stories — making it, alongside Burnham & Root's Monadnock Building two blocks north, one of the first 16-story buildings in the world. It was the first home of the Paymaster Corporation and is considered the sixth oldest surviving building in Chicago.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1976, and designated an official Chicago Landmark on July 7, 1978. In 1982, it was renovated and converted from commercial office space into residential condominiums, the use it retains today.

Architectural Significance

The Manhattan Building is a milestone of early skyscraper engineering and Chicago School design. Notable characteristics include:

• The oldest surviving skyscraper using purely skeletal (skeleton-frame) steel construction
• Cantilevered foundations, an innovation later used widely in tall-building construction
• A facade combining granite at the lower floors, pressed brick above, and terra cotta trim
• Projecting bay windows with playful grotesque faces carved into the undersides, added by Jenney to delight passersby
• Horizontal facade divisions and setbacks designed to downplay the building's then-shocking height

Architect William Le Baron Jenney, a Civil War engineer credited as the father of skeleton-frame construction, used the Manhattan Building to experiment with wind-bracing as a structural necessity — a first for tall buildings of its era.

Printing House Row District

The Manhattan Building sits within Chicago's Printing House Row District, a National Register historic district recognized for its concentration of architecturally significant late-19th-century commercial buildings along South Dearborn Street.

Today, the surrounding blocks combine:

• Landmark early skyscrapers
• Restaurants and cafés
• Cultural destinations
• Downtown Loop employment access
• Residential communities

It's one of Chicago's most architecturally significant streets, home to a concentration of buildings central to the invention of the modern skyscraper.

Location Overview

431 S Dearborn Street sits at the corner of Dearborn Street and Ida B. Wells Drive (formerly Congress Parkway), within Chicago's Printer's Row and Loop neighborhoods, providing access to:

• Chicago Loop business district
• Grant Park
• Harold Washington Library Center
• Museum Campus
• Lake Michigan lakefront
• Financial district
• Downtown entertainment venues

The Manhattan Building sits at the literal gateway to Printer's Row, immediately adjacent to the Plymouth, Old Colony, and Fisher Buildings.

Nearby Major Landmarks

Restaurants

Coffee Shops

Grocery Stores & Daily Shopping

Shopping Near the Manhattan Building

Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Fitness Centers & Wellness

Museums & Attractions

Performing Arts

Also nearby: Auditorium Theatre and Chicago Theatre, both popular year-round entertainment venues in the downtown core.

CTA Train Stations

Metra, Bus & Bike

Bus: Nearby CTA routes run along Michigan Avenue, State Street, Harrison Street, and Roosevelt Road.

Bike: Divvy bike-share stations throughout South Loop and downtown, with dedicated bike lanes and Lakefront Trail access.

Healthcare Near the Manhattan Building

Schools & Education

Hotels Near the Manhattan Building

Banking & Parking

Neighborhood Lifestyle Summary

Living at the Manhattan Building Chicago provides access to a highly walkable Chicago lifestyle. Residents are close to:

• ✓ Historic Printer's Row
• ✓ Downtown Loop offices
• ✓ Restaurants and cafés
• ✓ Museums and cultural attractions
• ✓ Parks and lakefront recreation
• ✓ Public transportation
• ✓ Universities and schools

The area combines Chicago's most significant early skyscraper architecture with the convenience of modern urban living.

A Typical Day Near the Manhattan Building

Morning

Coffee at Dollop Coffee Co., Hero Coffee Bar, or Intelligentsia; a walk through Printer's Row; a workout at a nearby fitness center or run along the Lakefront Trail; commuting via CTA or Metra.

Afternoon

Downtown offices, the Harold Washington Library Center, restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions.

Evening

Dinner at a South Loop restaurant, live jazz at the Jazz Showcase, events at Millennium Park, or a walk through Grant Park with lake views.

Ideal Residents

Downtown Professionals

Ideal for those working in the Loop financial district, legal offices, government buildings, tech companies, and corporate offices — the location reduces commuting time.

Architecture & History Enthusiasts

A rare chance to live inside a building central to architectural history, with Chicago School design and preserved original detailing.

People Who Prefer Walkable Living

Restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks, transit, and cultural attractions are all within walking distance.

Students, Faculty & Buyers

First-Time Buyers

With studio and one-bedroom layouts available, the Manhattan Building is an accessible entry point for buyers looking to own in Printer's Row and the Loop.

Students & Faculty

Convenient for those connected to Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University, DePaul University's Loop Campus, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Downsizers & Larger Households

Unit sizes range up to roughly 1,500 square feet with three-bedroom layouts, making the building suitable for both downsizers and larger households.

Spring & Summer

Spring

Walking paths, outdoor photography, gardens, and lakefront views at Grant Park; historic architecture walks past the Manhattan, Plymouth, Old Colony, and Fisher Buildings.

Summer

Outdoor concerts, public art, and festivals at Millennium Park; the Printers Row Lit Fest and Printers Row Art Fest along South Dearborn Street; cycling, running, and walking along the lakefront.

Fall & Winter

Fall

Chicago architecture tours highlighting the birth of the skyscraper on Dearborn Street; museum visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry.

Winter

Ice skating and holiday events at Millennium Park; live jazz at the nearby Jazz Showcase; theater and entertainment at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Theatre, and Symphony Center.

Advantages of the Location

1. Unmatched Architectural Pedigree

Few residential buildings anywhere can claim to be the oldest surviving skyscraper built on a purely skeletal steel frame — a genuine piece of engineering history.

2. Exceptional Downtown Access

Steps from the Harrison Red Line and LaSalle Blue Line stations, with a short commute into the Loop.

3. Strong Walkability

Dining, coffee, transit, parks, and attractions are reachable without a car for many daily activities.

4. Range of Unit Sizes

With 105 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom layouts, the building offers options for a wide range of buyers.

Considerations About the Building & Area

Older Building Systems

As a building dating to 1891, mechanical and structural systems reflect its age despite the 1982 renovation; buyers should review HOA reserves and building maintenance history.

Laundry & Parking

Reported amenities include coin-operated laundry rather than in-unit machines in many layouts, and parking is not guaranteed with every unit.

Downtown Environment

As with many central Chicago locations, residents should expect pedestrian activity, downtown noise, and busy streets during events.

Explore More Printer's Row Guides

About This Guide Series

This page is part of a series of in-depth guides to historic Printer's Row buildings in Chicago's South Loop, each covering building history, architecture, and neighborhood amenities in detail.

See our Near South Side real estate guide for the full neighborhood overview, or the Loop real estate guide for the adjacent downtown market.