Marquette Building
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Why it's listed
Rising along Dearborn Street in Chicago, this office building from 1895 was designed by Holabird and Roche. Its brown masonry and terra cotta facade follows a base, shaft and capital arrangement, while broad Chicago-style windows fill each bay and show the steel frame behind them. The floor plan is shaped like a letter E around a light court of white enameled brick, so every office faces either the street or the court and receives natural light. The lobby features marble staircases and a mezzanine balcony wrapped in Tiffany mosaic panels that portray the exploration of the Northwest. Bronze panels above the entrance depict Marquette and Joliet. A 1905 addition matched the original materials closely, but the cornice was replaced by an extra floor around 1950. The building was listed because it exemplifies the Chicago School, represents the work of Holabird and Roche, and set influential principles for planning multi-storied office buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its ties to the Chicago School of Architecture and as an example of the work of Holabird and Roche. It also cites the building's contribution to the aesthetic and functional development of modern architecture. Its facade directly expresses the steel skeleton, and its E-shaped floor plan with a light court is called a model of functional office design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000697, listed August 17, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 140 S. Dearborn St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 17, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000697 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Holabird and Roche |
| Architectural style | Chicago School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 7, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, occupied. The cornice was removed around 1950 and replaced with a 17th floor, and the lobby and entrance have been modified, though the general proportions and monumentality remain. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.88002, -87.62964 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000697.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6772574
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.