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Historic Chicago Skyscrapers Once Facing Demolition Set for Preservation, Reuse Under Federal Plan

The Century Building, 202 S. State St., built in 1916, architects Holabird and Roche. Consumers Building, 220 S. State St., built in 1913, architects Jenney, Mundie and Jensen. (Preservation Chicago / Eric Allix Rogers)The Century Building, 202 S. State St., built in 1916, architects Holabird and Roche. Consumers Building, 220 S. State St., built in 1913, architects Jenney, Mundie and Jensen. (Preservation Chicago / Eric Allix Rogers)

Two vacant downtown skyscrapers owned by the federal government that had been facing demolition are now in line for reuse under a newly-released recommendation.

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The Century, 202 S. State St., and Consumers Buildings, 220 S. State St. – which date to 1916 and 1913, respectively – have been empty since they were purchased by the government in 2005 through the use of eminent domain.

The properties are adjacent to the Dirksen Federal Building, Chicago’s federal courthouse. Because of that proximity they had been in line for demolition, with former Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer saying that allowing the buildings to remain standing and occupied would be a “grave security risk.”

Groups including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Landmarks Illinois and Preservation Chicago have for years called on the federal government to allow the buildings to be rehabbed and reused, with Preservation Chicago pitching a plan to make them an archive and research center for a group of religious organizations.

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks last year granted the buildings preliminary landmark status. The buildings are both recognized as examples of a key architectural period in Chicago during the early 20th century.

The General Services Administration late last week released its final analysis of the Century and Consumers Buildings, along with a smaller structure nestled between the two terracotta-clad skyscrapers.

The GSA’s final environmental impact statement called for adaptive reuse, with the agency saying it will issue a call for lease proposals “to seek a reuse that satisfies the security needs of the Dirksen Courthouse.”

The decision was met with cheers by preservationists, who have been highly critical both of the feds’ plan to raze the buildings and by the decades of deferred maintenance that has allowed the buildings to fall into disrepair.

Last year, WTTW News was first to report the GSA’s plan to tear down one of two smaller properties between the skyscrapers, the century-old John R. Thompson Company building.

The GSA says public comments on its plans for the Century and Consumers buildings are due by Sept. 3.


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