About the Monadnock Building Chicago

Located at 53 W Jackson Boulevard, the Monadnock Building is a 16-story landmark at the northern gateway to Chicago's Printer's Row neighborhood. Built in two phases between 1889 and 1893, it is recognized as the tallest load-bearing brick or masonry building ever constructed — a structural record it still holds today.

Unlike most other buildings profiled in this Printer's Row series, the Monadnock Building Chicago remains a fully operating office building rather than residential condominiums, home to roughly 300 office suites for independent professional firms and entrepreneurs, plus ground-floor retail and dining.

Monadnock Building History

The Monadnock Building Chicago was built in two distinct phases. The north half, designed by Daniel Burnham and John Root of Burnham & Root, was constructed from 1889 to 1891. The south half, designed by Holabird & Roche in a more ornate style, followed from 1892 to 1893. Together the four sections — Monadnock, Kearsarge, Katahdin, and Wachusett — are all named after New England mountains, with Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire giving the building its name.

When completed in 1893, the Monadnock was the world's largest office building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 (as the Monadnock Block), designated a Chicago Landmark in 1973, and later included within the Printing House Row District, added to the National Register in 1976.

Architectural Significance

The Monadnock Building is a landmark of load-bearing masonry engineering pushed to its structural limit. Notable characteristics include:

• The tallest load-bearing brick or masonry building ever constructed, at 215 feet
• The first use of a portal system of wind bracing in the United States
• Ornamented staircases representing the first structural use of aluminum in building construction
• A smooth, unornamented brick facade inspired by the Egyptian pylon, with an inward batter at the base and outward flare at the parapet
• Continuous curved bay windows running the height of the building

Architect John Root died shortly after designing the north half, and the more decorative south half by Holabird & Roche shows a visible shift in ornamentation while preserving the building's unified massing and color.

Printing House Row District

The Monadnock Building anchors the northern end of 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 and Jackson Boulevard.

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

53 W Jackson Boulevard sits at the northern edge of Printer's Row, within easy reach of:

• Chicago Loop financial district
• LaSalle Street financial corridor
• Willis Tower
• Grant Park
• Harold Washington Library Center
• Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center

The Monadnock Building sits directly across Jackson Boulevard from the Chicago Board of Trade Building and a short walk from the Federal Plaza and LaSalle Street financial core.

Nearby Major Landmarks

Restaurants

Coffee Shops

Grocery Stores & Daily Shopping

Shopping Near the Monadnock Building

Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Fitness Centers & Wellness

Museums & Attractions

Performing Arts

CTA Train Stations

Metra, Bus & Bike

Bus: CTA routes run along Jackson Boulevard, Dearborn Street, and State Street.

Bike: Divvy bike-share stations throughout the Loop and South Loop, with dedicated bike lanes nearby.

Healthcare Near the Monadnock Building

Schools & Education

Hotels Near the Monadnock Building

Banking & Parking

Working Near the Monadnock Building

Tenants and visitors at the Monadnock Building Chicago benefit from one of downtown's most walkable locations, close to:

• ✓ LaSalle Street financial district
• ✓ Historic Printer's Row
• ✓ Restaurants and cafés
• ✓ Museums and cultural attractions
• ✓ Parks and lakefront recreation
• ✓ Multiple CTA and Metra lines

The building sits at the intersection of Chicago's financial history and its architectural history, steps from both the Board of Trade and the birthplace of the modern skyscraper.

A Typical Day Near the Monadnock Building

Morning

Coffee at Cafe Exchange or Dollop Coffee Co.; a walk past the Board of Trade and along Jackson Boulevard; commuting via the Blue or Red Line, both a block or two away.

Afternoon

Meetings in the Loop's financial and legal core, lunch at a nearby cafe, a visit to the Harold Washington Library Center.

Evening

Dinner at a South Loop or Loop restaurant, a walk through Printer's Row, or an evening at Grant Park or Millennium Park.

Ideal Tenants

Independent Professional Firms

Law offices, consultancies, and other small professional practices that value a prestigious, historic Loop address with flexible suite sizes from 250 to 5,000 square feet.

Entrepreneurs & Startups

Small businesses looking for character-filled office space in the heart of Chicago's financial and legal district, close to the Board of Trade and LaSalle Street.

Architecture & History Enthusiasts

Anyone drawn to working inside a genuine record-holder of skyscraper engineering, with preserved lobbies, aluminum staircases, and original detailing.

Who Should Consider the Wider Printer's Row Market Instead

Because the Monadnock Building Chicago is a commercial office building rather than residential condominiums, homebuyers interested in living in this historic district should look at the neighboring residential landmarks profiled in this series — including the Manhattan Building, Pontiac Building, and Printers Row Lofts — all within a few blocks and all converted to condo residences.

The Monadnock nonetheless anchors the neighborhood's identity and is worth understanding for anyone researching Printer's Row real estate and its architectural history.

Spring & Summer

Spring

Walking paths, outdoor photography, and gardens at Grant Park; historic architecture walks along Jackson Boulevard and Dearborn Street.

Summer

Outdoor concerts and festivals at Millennium Park; the Printers Row Lit Fest a few blocks south; cycling and running along the lakefront.

Fall & Winter

Fall

Chicago architecture tours highlighting the birth of the skyscraper along Dearborn and Jackson; museum visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum.

Winter

Ice skating and holiday events at Millennium Park; live jazz at the nearby Jazz Showcase; theater and entertainment downtown.

Advantages of the Location

1. Unmatched Architectural Pedigree

The tallest load-bearing masonry building ever constructed, with a record that still stands more than 130 years after completion.

2. Exceptional Downtown Access

Steps from the Jackson Blue Line and Red Line stations, with direct access to the Loop's financial and legal core.

3. Prestigious, Character-Filled Address

A rare opportunity for businesses to occupy office space inside one of the most historically significant buildings in American architecture.

4. Flexible Suite Sizes

With roughly 300 suites ranging from 250 to 5,000 square feet, the building accommodates a wide range of business needs.

Considerations About the Building

Commercial Only

The Monadnock Building is not residential; buyers or renters seeking a home in Printer's Row should look to the neighboring condo buildings covered elsewhere in this guide series.

Older Building Systems

As a building dating to 1891–1893, mechanical systems reflect its age despite ongoing renovation and maintenance; prospective tenants should review lease terms and building services directly.

Downtown Environment

As with many central Chicago locations, expect pedestrian activity, downtown noise, and busy streets during business hours.

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.