The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Roanoke Building and Tower

Holabird & Roche (1915, 1922 addition); Rebori, Wentworth, Dewey & McCormick (1925 tower), architect

— Chicago Landmark —

Roanoke Building and Tower Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 9, 2024

1. Roanoke Building and Tower Marker

Inscription. Built in stages, this building combines a massive office block (originally called the Lumber Exchange Building) with a slender tower addition, reflecting the influence of Chicago's pioneering zoning ordinance of 1923 which encouraged set-back skyscrapers. Designed in an unusual Portuguese Gothic Revival style with elaborate terra-cotta ornament, the building also exemplifies the importance of LaSalle Street as Chicago's premier historic street for finance, trade and commerce.

Designated on December 12, 2007
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 41° 52.899′ N, 87° 37.932′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

. It is in The Loop District. It is on LaSalle Street near Madison Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is to the right of the entrance to the Residence Inn. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 South LaSalle Street, Chicago IL 60603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: One North LaSalle Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Number One City Datum (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Burnham Center (about 600 feet away); Third Church Building (about 600 feet away); Chicago Temple (about 600 feet away); Augustus Garrett (about 600 feet away); Fourth Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago (about 700 feet away); Founded by This Church (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The Chicago Landmark plaque is to the right of the door; a plaque related to the building's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places is to the left. The site today is home to a Residence Inn hotel.

Also see . . .
1. from basement to bell tower: a photographic journey of holabird & roche's lumber exchange building

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 12, 2024

2. Roanoke Building and Tower Marker

The marker is to the right of the entry into the Residence Inn.

. The Urban Remains blog takes a tour of the Roanoke Building, including a look at the bronze bells that sit within the tower at the top. (Submitted on September 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Chicagology: Lumberman's Exchange Building. Chicagology looks at the history of the Lumberman Building, known primarily today as the Roanoke Building. (Submitted on September 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Roanoke Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 12, 2024

3. Roanoke Building

Roanoke Building and Tower NRHP plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 9, 2024

4. Roanoke Building and Tower NRHP plaque

One North LaSalle Building under construction, 1929 image. Click for full size.

Chicago Daily News Collection, Chicago History Museum, 1929

5. One North LaSalle Building under construction, 1929

The Roanoke Building can be seen on the right side of this photo of another Chicago Landmark, One North LaSalle, under construction in 1929.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 361 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on September 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on September 10, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on September 11, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.