“The building, a contributing property to the NRHP West Loop–LaSalle Street Historic District, was originally constructed for the trade union Chicago Federation of Musicians in 1933. The architect was Nelson Max Dunning, best known for the American Furniture Mart and American Book Company, was an active member of the local architecture community in Chicago. Not only was he a founder of the Architectural League of America, Dunning was also a loyal friend of Louis Sullivan towards the end of his life. The Art Deco design is mainly clad in limestone, while the first floor is adorned with polished granite and an angled, recessed storefront.

“This retail space was created to financially support the federation. For a time, Rock Records, ‘The Store With More,’ was located here. According to the NRHP form, the other architectural elements include “multi-story, fluted pilasters” and “cast metal panels ornamented in low relief depictions of musicians and instruments.” A third floor was added by architect B. Lund in 1949. This structure is orange-rated in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey.

“This three-story building fronts on Washington Street and shares a party wall with the adjacent high rise to the west, outside of the district boundaries. The first floor is clad in polished granite and consists of a bronze-framed entrance at the east end and an angled, recessed storefront occupying the remainder of the facade.

“Above the first floor, the facade is clad in limestone and is detailed in low relief with multi-story, fluted pilasters and other sculptural elements. The tall second floor features large window openings of multiple lights and topped with cast metal panels ornamented in low relief depictions of musicians and instruments

“The building was built for the Chicago Federation of Musicians, a trade union representing musicians, and James C. Petrillo, President of the American Federation of Musicians from 1940-1958 The building was planned to house union offices as well as musician practice rooms and an auditorium for performances. Retail space on the first floor was intended to help financially support the building.

“Throughout its history, regular union meetings were held within the building. The Chicago Federation of Musicians continued to maintain offices here until about 2004 when the organization moved to new offices on West Randolph Street. The building is presently vacant.

“The building exterior remains largely as it appeared after the third story addition was completed in 1949 and retains a high degree of integrity. (West Loop – LaSalle Street Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration, 2013 pg. 28)

• 175 W. Washington Street LoopNet Listing
• West Loop – LaSalle Street Historic District National Register of Historic Places Registration, 2013 pg. 28)