Elgin Tower Building
Also known as: Home Banks Building
Why it's listed
Rising 15 stories and 186 feet above Fountain Square, this Art Deco office tower dominates the skyline of downtown Elgin, Illinois. Designed by W.G. Knoebel and built in 1928-1929, it was first the home of Home National Bank, which replaced its three-story building on the site. The facade of Bedford limestone and gray granite carries stylized eagles, Roman fasces, Corinthian columns and zigzag trim, and the lobby keeps its marble walls, floors and two hand-operated elevators. The bank failed in 1932, and the building was renamed the Elgin Tower Building in 1934. It reached its commercial peak in the post-World War II years, when Walgreens and many professional offices filled it. Downtown declined from the 1960s, but a restoration begun in 1996 returned the street-level facade to its original look. The building is listed for its role in Elgin's commerce and as a distinctive example of Art Deco design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for commerce, as a symbol of Elgin's commercial life that reached its peak as a business center in the post-World War II era. It is also significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of Art Deco architecture, with limestone and granite facades, stylized relief carving and classical details. It is the tallest structure in Elgin and one of only two Art Deco buildings in the city.
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 02000542, listed May 22, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 100 E. Chicago St., Elgin |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | May 22, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Knoebel, W.G., Architect; St. Louis Bank Building and Equipment Company, Builder |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as commercial and professional offices; a restoration of the exterior began in 1996, and some upper floors were undergoing renovation at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.03937, -88.28439 (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 02000542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5360064
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.