Overview

The Pittsfield Building is a 38‑story skyscraper located at 55 E. Washington Street in the Loop neighborhood of Chicago. When it was completed in the late 1920s it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and it remains an important example of early 20th‑century commercial architecture in the central business district. The building has long combined office, showroom and retail uses and contributes to the dense urban fabric of the Loop; more information about the structure is available via its main reference page here.

Architectural character

The design reflects the stepped massing and ornamental language common to large American office towers of the 1920s. Exterior cladding features decorative masonry and glazed terra cotta around the base and vertical piers, while setbacks near the top create a recognizable crown on the skyline. Interior public spaces historically included a notable multi‑story lobby and retail arcades at street level. The building's silhouette and facade detail illustrate a transition between earlier Gothic Revival influences and the emerging Art Deco vocabulary of that era.

History and development

Constructed during the downtown building boom of the 1920s and completed in the late 1920s, the Pittsfield Building was developed to meet strong demand for office space and commercial showrooms in the Loop. Over the decades it housed a mix of tenants, from small businesses and professional offices to retailers and wholesale showrooms. Its central address near major transit and civic institutions helped sustain its role in the city's commercial life.

Use, preservation and significance

The building has been adaptively used over time, with ground‑floor retail serving pedestrians and upper floors accommodating office tenants; portions have also been repurposed for residential or hospitality uses in response to changing market conditions. Recognizing its architectural and historical importance, the structure was designated a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002. It stands within the Loop community area, a core of downtown activity and heritage neighborhood.

Notable facts and features

  • Address: 55 E. Washington Street, in Chicago's Loop.
  • Stories: 38 floors exemplifying 1920s high‑rise design.
  • Style: masonry and terra cotta facade with stepped setbacks and ornamentation.
  • Status: designated Chicago Landmark, reflecting preservation priorities for downtown architecture.

The Pittsfield Building continues to be referenced in discussions of Chicago's architectural evolution: it illustrates how commercial needs, stylistic trends and urban regulations combined to shape early skyscrapers that still define parts of the downtown skyline.