McCaffery Eyeing West Town For Another Office Building
At One River Place (619 West Chicago Avenue), there is a statue of the Spirit of Progress, with her torch hefted high, lighting the way for the caduceus of commerce. When completed in 1928, she stood atop the soaring tower of the Montgomery Ward Building on Michigan Avenue (now 6 North Michigan). She was later relocated to her current perch as the Ward empire expanded and required more floor space. Strangely, Progress is pointing...
Will Aon Center be Chicago’s Next Skyscraper to Sport an Observation Deck?
Better late than never, Chicago’s third-tallest building may soon get into the observation deck business. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that some of the potential new owners of the Aon Center at 200 East Randolph Street want to open the upper reaches of the stately skyscraper to the public. The 83-story building in Chicago’s New Eastside is currently for sale, and expected to fetch well in excess of...
The Ultimate Chicago Souvenir: The Head of Montgomery Ward
The allegorical figure who, quite literally, stood head and shoulders above the rest of Chicago for 20 years is going on the auction block. The statue of the goddess Diana was a weathervane in the form of a naked woman holding a torch in one hand and a caduceus in the other. She was made by sculptor John Massey Rhind in 1898 to top the tower that used to rise above 6 North Michigan Avenue. At the time, the building was the...
Retail Finally Comes to Six North Michigan Avenue
After what seems like an eternity (seriously, it’s been at least 18 months), retail is finally coming to Six North Michigan Avenue. The building was formerly the Montgomery Ward Headquarters, and a few years ago underwent a massive interior and exterior renovation, turning it into a residential tower. (“After” picture to the right.) Our Gold Coast spy was out of his comfort zone, and sent us this picture of the space...
