Randolph Place Residences Building History

Located just northwest of the Loop in the Fulton River District, Randolph Place Residences boasts a sure-footing in the history books of this former manufacturing area. The famous turn-of-the-century Chicago City Planner, Daniel Burnham, originally designed and built the building in 1917, shortly after completeing its sister tower immediately to the south at 111 N. Canal (currently known as River Center). Burnham is credited with having built the first Chicago high-rise office building as well as designing the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. He is still known today as the man who envisioned a city complete with public lakefront parks for its citizens.

Daniel Burnham’s riverfront design at 165 N. Canal Street was originally known as the Butler Brothers Warehouse. In the years that followed, the building housed a variety of manufacturing warehouses and offices, such as telephone company offices, the Canadian Northwest (CNW) railroad offices, and a catalogue warehouse.

The conversion of this 16-story building into loft-style condominiums was completed in 1999. The exterior brick facades, Tuscan arcading, and 10-foot plus interior ceiling heights were preserved during the building’s conversion. Many amenities were added to the residences, including new oak hardwood floors, balconies, and ventless gas fireplaces.

As the surrounding neighborhood evolves and grows, Randolph Place Residences continues to hold its unique position as both a reminder of the forgotten past of the formerly industrial area as well as an example of the neighborhood’s current trend of sophisticated, urban housing.