Randolph Tower Explained

Randolph Tower
Former Names:Steuben Club Building
Architectural Style:Gothic Revival[1]
Address:188 W. Randolph St[2]
Location Town:Chicago
Location Country:United States
Opened Date:1929
Height:463feet
Floor Count:45[3] [4]
Architect:Karl M. Vitzthum
Steuben Club, The
Location:188 W. Randolph St., Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates:41.8844°N -87.6336°W
Architect:Vitzhum, K.M. & Co.
Architecture:Gothic Revival
Added:May 22, 2007
Refnum:07000457

Randolph Tower, formerly known as the Steuben Club Building, is a historic Gothic Revival skyscraper in Downtown Chicago. The building was constructed in 1929 and designed by architect Karl M. Vitzthum, who designed another Chicago landmark, the historic One North LaSalle Building.

Randolph Tower was built for the Steuben Club of Chicago to promote German-American heritage. After the first World War, American citizens of German descent sought to found clubs to serve as a testimonial of their loyalty to the ideals of American citizenship. The first 25 floors were built for retail and offices and the club was located at the top floors. Several of the tenants were also club members.[5]

Randolph Tower is recognizable for its terra-cotta clad exterior and was depicted in the 2009 film Public Enemies as a hangout for the main character, John Dillinger, who dated one of the coat-check girls. The city of Chicago designated the structure a landmark on July 26, 2006. On May 22, 2007, the building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Central Chicago.[6] [7] Randolph Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2007. In 2011, the building began receiving an exterior renovation and remodeling of the interior by Randolph Tower Development Company. It is now used as an apartment building with 312 apartments. The renovation was completed in 2012.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steuben Club Building. webapps.cityofchicago.org. 1 September 2012.
  2. News: Prominent Chicago Man Found Slain. 7 October 1948. Reading Eagle. 1 September 2012.
  3. Web site: Mark Boyer. Developer Talks About Randolph Tower Rehab, Interior Design. 18 July 2011. chicago.curbed.com. 1 September 2012.
  4. News: Grimm. Andy. History unearthed during renovation. 3 April 2012. Chicago Tribune. 1 September 2012.
  5. “Steuben Club Building.” Preliminary Summary of Information, (Commission on Chicago Landmarks, 2006), 1.
  6. Web site: ILLINOIS - Cook County. nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. 1 September 2012.
  7. Web site: 188 W. Randolph Street. cityofchicago.org. 1 September 2012.