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The History of One North State

Journalists have coined State & Madison the BUSIEST CORNER IN THE WORLD for the past 200 years.  This is the central location where all lines of Chicago’s elevated trains meet, becoming the EPICENTER OF THE CITY.

In 1845, this became the site of Chicago’s first public school. In 1857, prior to paved roads on State Street, James H. McVicker opened his first theatre, bringing culture to State & Madison. The city was thriving. However, in 1871, the GREAT CHICAGO FIRE devastated most of the city, including more than thirty prominent buildings along State Street.

Proving business at State & Madison could survive anything, architects began rebuilding  Chicago’s premier shopping and business district. Starting with what is known as the BIG 9 department stores, the best of the best included CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO., MARSHALL FIELD’S & MANDEL BROS.

THE CHICAGO BUILDING, known as ONE NORTH STATE today, was always described as MODERN, with 16-stories. It is on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES built in 1904 with the building made from a steel frame and terra cotta façade and put up in three phases, fully complete by 1912.

The well-regarded Chicago architecture firm, Holabird & Roche, built THE CHICAGO BUILDING. They established their firm in 1880 after apprenticing with THE GODFATHER OF THE SKYSCRAPER, William Le Baron Jenney. They developed and refined their style of commercial office buildings throughout the 19th century and were known for designing some of the City’s original skyscrapers. Their renowned buildings include CHICAGO CITY HALL and the UNIVERSITY CLUB.

Originally built for the CENTRAL TRADING COMPANY & MANDAL BROS department store, this building is part of American history. The Mandel family was well regarded for supporting the war efforts through the 1940’s. In the 1960’s, WIEBOLDT’S DEPARTMENT STORE purchased the building to be closer to MARSHALL FIELD’S. Due to Chicago’s population migrating to the suburbs, many historic Chicago department stores closed. By the 1980’s, One North State was converted to the FIRST CHICAGO NATIONAL BANK and corporate offices. 

One thing is clear, State & Madison was the crossroad through which Chicago’s history was written.. ONE NORTH STATE is the building where the world’s greatest minds have always gathered.