“The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved a preliminary landmark recommendation for the Bankers Building at 105 W. Adams. Located at the southwest corner of S. Clark St and W. Adams St, the building is a 476-foot-tall commercial office building located in the heart of the Loop’s financial district and was designed by the Burnham Brothers, Inc.

“The commission identified the building as meeting Criterion 1 for its heritage. With its setbacks and light courts framed by wings, the form of the Bankers Building is shaped by Chicago’s first zoning ordinance that was passed in 1923 which sought to balance a demand for taller office buildings while maintaining sunlight and air at street level. The Bankers Building was built for financial services firms and the building reflects the rapid growth of the banking sector in Chicago in the 1920s.

“Meeting Criterion 4 for its exemplary architecture, the Bankers Building exemplifies an Art Deco skyscraper, a building design that emerged in Chicago and other American cities in the 1920s. Character-defining features of the design include its ornament restricted to the base of the building, flat wall planes, verticality created by piers that rise unbroken to the roof line and the building’s setbacks, which cause the building to become narrower as it rises higher. In addition to its Art Deco composition, the Bankers Building includes Classical Revival ornaments at its base including figures from Greek mythology and symbols such as cornucopia, swags of fruit and the caduceus.

“The building also meets the Integrity Criterion as the building’s original design and features are intact as seen in its massing, decorative entrance surrounds, stone base, belt courses, and projecting cast stone detailing. It still possesses sufficient integrity to convey its historic architectural and cultural significance. The building has had ongoing masonry work done with new brick masonry in some locations. According to the Commission, it is likely that the color and finish of the replacement brick has been chosen to match that of the original masonry, and once the entire façade is cleaned all of the brick will match.

“The redevelopment has approval from the Community Development Commission to receive $67.5 million in TIF from the city but is awaiting full approval from the City Council. That work is expected to begin in January 2026 with general contractor Toro Construction set to wrap up work by June 2027.” (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 7/8/25)

We’re thrilled to see this important building landmarked and redevelopment project moving forward. Preservation Chicago has been working closely with owners to support this adaptive reuse project. We’ve testified multiple times in support of Chicago Landmark Designation, Class L and other development requirements.

Read the full story at Urbanize Chicago

• Preliminary landmark approved for Bankers Building at 105 W. Adams; Floors 11-40 of the building will be converted into 400 apartments, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 7/8/25
• Community Development Commission Approves Funding For 105 W Adams Street, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 5/15/25
• CDC approves $67.5 million in TIF for 105 W. Adams, Floors 11-40 will be converted into 400 mixed-income apartments, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 5/15/25
• City panel OKs subsidy for 400-unit office-to-apartment conversion, Danny Ecker, Crain’s Chicago Business, 5/13/25
• Bankers Building, 105 W. Adams St. Preliminary Landmark Designation Report, June 2025