The Delaware Building

The Delaware Building in Chicago's Loop is a rare architectural survivor from the years after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. One of the few buildings to have kept its Italianate character from the 1870s, it stands out among the more modern structures around it. Particularly noteworthy is the early use of a precast concrete facade. Originally built with five stories and a basement, the building had large expanses of glass on the lower floors for storefront display windows. In 1889, two stories were added and three window bays on Randolph Avenue were removed. Today the building is protected as a historic landmark and offers a glimpse into the city's early skyscraper architecture.