RADIO: What’s That Building? Inside The Former Armour Institute Of Technology

“Amid the many modernist steel-and-glass buildings on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology stands a red brick Victorian that occupies nearly an entire block.

“It caught the eye of a “What’s That Building?” fan, who asked about the history of the “huge red brick building — maybe part of IIT.”

“It was built in 1893 to house one of IIT’s predecessors: the Armour Institute of Technology. IIT was created in 1940 when the Armour Institute merged with the Lewis Institute, a West Side school. Students attended classes in the Armour building until it closed in the early 2000s. IIT sold it in 2017 and now a development group plans to gut the inside and turn the Chicago landmark into an apartment building.

“That work hasn’t started, so the spot is vacant for now. But a look inside reveals a building still filled with hints of its history.”

Hear the full story on the Morning Shift, WBEZ Chicago 91.5

AUDIO: What’s That Building? Inside The Former Armour Institute Of Technology, Dennis Rodkin, Morning Shift, WBEZ Chicago 91.5, 3/28/19