Originally built to provide shelter to young ladies moving to an inhospitable city, the Harriet McCormick YWCA served its clientele in safety and elegance for the better part of 5 decades. Constructed with a donation from Cyrus McCormick and dedicated to his late wife Harriet Hammond McCormick, the architecture reflected a simple classicism with touches of the Art Deco streamlining that was popular at the time of its construction. Incised limestone panels depicted women engaged in various educational and athletic activities.

In the 1970’s, the building was purchased and served as the home of the Dr. Scholl’s School of Podiatric Medicine until it was again sold for condo redevelopment in 2002.

Despite a protest rally organized by Preservation Chicago in November of 2003, Alderman Burton Natarus (42nd) supported a developer's plan to demolish the building to make way for the construction of a high-rise condominium and townhouse development. Due to the support of the alderman, the demolition was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission.

Adding insult to injury, the Landmarks Commission did not utilize the Demolition Delay Ordinance to try saving this “Orange-rated" building – which would have allowed for a hold on the demolition permits while other options were explored. Instead, the Landmarks Commission took the unfortunate position that, since the Plan Commission had already reviewed the project, there was no need for a review of the building's architectural or historic value.