History Merchandise Mart

1 history

1.1 construction , context
1.2 ownership
1.3 expansions , renovations

history
construction , context

merchandise mart under construction, 1929



merchandise mart in late 1969

in 1926, westward extension of double-deck wacker drive increased development on south riverbank. in 1927, marshall field & co. announced plans build on north bank opposite wacker drive. site, bordered orleans street, wells street, kinzie street , chicago river, formerly native american trading post , site of chicago , north western railway s former wells street station, abandoned in 1911 in favor of chicago , north western passenger terminal. railroad s air rights, site large enough accommodate largest building in world . removing train yard supported chicago plan commission s desire develop , beautify riverfront.

james simpson, president of marshall field & co. 1923 1930 , chairman of chicago plan commission 1926 1935, turned first shovels of dirt @ groundbreaking on august 16, 1928, along architect ernest graham. general contractor john w. griffiths & sons brought building construction machine age through use of techniques ordinarily used in construction of big dams. cement arriving boat lifted compressed air bins 75 feet (20 m) above ground, gravel , sand delivered railroad cars conveyor belts , transfer elevators. giant mixers provided wet concrete skip hoists in vertical towers extended building rose. continuously employing 2,500 men , many 5,700 men altogether, construction project lasted year , half months of great depression. foundation footprint of 2 square city blocks, building required 29 million bricks, 40 miles (64 km) of plumbing, 380 miles (610 km) of wiring, 4,000,000 cubic yards (3,100,000 m) of concrete, 200,000 cubic feet (5,700 m) of stone, , 4,000 windows. bethlehem steel fabricated of 60,000 tons of steel. estimated 7.5 miles (10 km) of corridors , on 30 elevators included in construction.

ownership

the merchandise mart opened on may 5, 1930, east of chicago s original trading post, wolf point.

the building realized marshall field’s dream of single wholesale center entire nation , consolidated 13 different warehouses. purchased in 1945 or 1946, depending on source, kennedy family through merchandise mart properties, inc., , managed sargent shriver.

the kennedy family sold of complex center property vornado realty trust in 1998 part of larger $625 million ($918.4 million in current dollars) transaction, year, mmpi acquired vornado $450 million cash , $100 million-plus stake in vornado. of 2007, building valued @ $917 million.

expansions , renovations

night view of building s surroundings along chicago river: among buildings , structures shown (left right) left bank @ k station (300 north canal), 333 north canal, kinzie street railroad bridge, 350 west mart center, merchandise mart, 300 north lasalle, franklin street bridge , part of 333 wacker drive.

the merchandise mart modernized in late 1950s , 1960s. indian chiefs removed , replaced concrete plates in 1961, of minimal note onlookers skyscrapers did not rise on north side of river predicted. of carvings later found in suburban backyard , auctioned in 2014. in 1962, entrance canopy constructed on south vehicle use.

in 1977, skidmore, owings & merrill designed chicago apparel center, located on west side of orleans street, increased merchandise mart’s total floor space 6,200,000 square feet (580,000 m). making use of plazas, esplanades , overlooks employed waterfront location pedestrian pleasure. in 1988, helmut jahn designed enclosed pedestrian walking bridge on orleans street connecting mart , apparel center.

after 10-year, $100 million modernization in late 1980s included public utility upgrades, beyer blinder belle s commission in 1989 create additional perimeter entrances , restore display windows, main entrance , lobby. on south facade, drive-through canopy removed , 2 smaller doorways aside main entrance added. display windows, painted on during earlier modernization campaign, restored clear glass showcase merchant s wares. new main , corner entrances added rear facade, , loading dock occupied north portion of first floor of river level removed in order use bottom deck of north bank drive. improvements lobby included restoration of original glass curtain wall on entrance, shop fronts , reception desk using terrazzo floors , wall sconces influenced original design. project completed in 1991.

in november 2007, building received leed existing buildings silver recognition.