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211 West Wacker Drive was built in 1927 as the headquarters of the Chicago Evening Post. The Post was merged into the Chicago Times and later merged with The Chicago Sun and 211 W. Wacker served as the Chicago Sun – Times Building until 1958 (when the Sun – Times built on the site now being demolished for the Trump Tower – Chicago.) Designed by Holabird & Root in the Art Deco style the building serves as an excellent example of the architect’s signature…massive columns low on the façade and smaller columns repeated near the building’s top. |
The property was sold by The Chicago Sun – Times to YMCA College and was used as their downtown campus. In 1983, it was sold to an investor group (including one of the current developers). During 1984 the building was completely renovated, including new windows, elevators, and air-conditioning systems and fully leased as an incoming productivity office property. It was sold to Japanese investors in 1989 and has subsequently been owned by various institutional investors.
A relatively small building among the Behemoths along Wacker Drive, 211 West Wacker is finding a new identity as the first institutional grade “Loop” office property to be converted from a rental to an office condominium. This new property type is creating a distinctive identity for 211 W. Wacker in the Chicago office markets. There is great interest as business organizations (including non-for-profit organizations) recognize history in the making.
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