Monadnock Building

"The 16-story Monadnock Building is located at 53 West Jackson. The north half of the building was the last designed by the firm of Burnham & Root and built starting in 1891. The later south half, constructed in 1893, was designed by Holabird & Roche and is similar in color and profile to the original, but the design is more traditionally ornate. The tallest load-bearing brick building ever constructed (to this day), it employed the first portal system of wind bracing in the United States. Its decorative staircases represent the first structural use of aluminum in building construction. Externally, simple ornamentation and design at the request of Boston-based owners including bay windows. You can walk all the way between Jackson and Van Buren, or you can duck in and out. (view from NW corner of Dearborn & Jackson) "