Sullivan Center

The Sullivan Center, originally known as the Carson Pirie Scott Building, is a twelve-story high-rise in downtown Chicago and one of the most important works of the Chicago School. Designed by Louis Sullivan for the Schlesinger & Mayer department store, the building was constructed between 1898 and 1904. Since 2007 it has no longer housed a retail store and now goes by the name Sullivan Center. A National Historic Landmark and part of the Loop Retail Historic District, it is one of the city's central sights.

Architecturally, the building is distinguished by the classic three-part division into base, shaft, and capital, reminiscent of a classical column. The facade stands out for its fire-resistant materials such as terra-cotta and an iron-and-steel skeleton frame, which made large, bay-wide windows possible. This construction flooded the interiors with light and allowed for the design of striking sidewalk display windows. Especially eye-catching are the artful Art Nouveau decorations in bronze and cast iron at the entrance, as well as the wrought-iron ornamentation inspired by Celtic metalwork. The rounded corner edge and the vertical emphasis of the corner column underscore the monumental effect of the building, which you can visit today as a cultural landmark.