You’ve probably seen it a thousand times if you’ve ever walked the Chicago Riverwalk or taken one of those architectural boat tours where everyone drinks overpriced local IPAs. It’s that massive, authoritative presence right at the corner of LaSalle and Wacker. Most people just call it the Builders Building. But 222 North LaSalle Chicago is a lot more than just a 26-story hunk of Bedford stone and terracotta. It’s a survivor. While the glass towers of the Loop try to out-glitter each other, this place just sits there, anchored to the bedrock, reminding everyone that Chicago was built on grit long before it was built on tech.
Honestly, it’s one of those buildings that feels like it belongs in a Batman movie. It’s got that specific 1920s gravitas. Originally finished in 1927, it was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they basically drew the blueprint for the entire city’s skyline, from the Wrigley Building to Union Station. They didn't do "subtle." They did "monumental."
The Weird History of the Builders Building
Most folks think 222 North LaSalle Chicago was always just another office tower. Not really. It was envisioned as a hub for the construction industry. Back in the twenties, the city was exploding. Developers needed a central spot to meet, trade, and showcase materials. It even had a massive internal courtyard designed for displaying full-sized construction equipment. Imagine walking into a lobby today and seeing a crane or a steam shovel instead of a minimalist coffee bar. It was a trade show that never ended.
Then the Great Depression hit. The party stopped.
The building transitioned, as everything in Chicago does, through various ownerships and renovations. Tishman Speyer eventually got their hands on it, and later, the Crown family. That's when things got interesting from a design perspective. In the 1980s, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) stepped in. They didn't just clean the windows; they added four floors to the top. Usually, when you slap extra floors on a 60-year-old landmark, it looks like a cheap hat. But SOM managed to make it look seamless, blending the new steel and glass with the original Beaux-Arts aesthetic. It was a massive flex in the world of urban architecture.
What It’s Actually Like Inside Today
If you walk in today, you aren't greeted by construction foreman. It’s high-end corporate luxury, but with better bones than the stuff being built in the Fulton Market. The lobby is a cavern of polished stone and brass. It feels expensive. Not "new money" expensive, but "I own three blocks of the city" expensive.
The floor plates are huge. We're talking 30,000 to 40,000 square feet. For a tech firm or a law firm, that’s the dream because you can have everyone on one level instead of splitting the team across five floors of a skinny tower. It’s why companies like Avant or Relativity have called it home. They need the space to scale without losing the culture. Plus, the views of the river are distracting in the best way possible. You can watch the bridges lift in the summer while you're stuck in a meeting about quarterly projections.
Location: The "LaSalle Street" Factor
Living or working at 222 North LaSalle Chicago puts you in a weirdly perfect intersection. You're in the Loop, but you're facing the water. You’re technically on the LaSalle Street canyon, which is the historical heart of Chicago's financial district, but you aren't buried in the dark shadows of the Federal Reserve.
Getting there is easy. Or as easy as it gets in this city. You’ve got the Clark/Lake L station just a few blocks south, giving you access to basically every color of the CTA rainbow. If you’re coming from the suburbs, Ogilvie and Union Station are a manageable walk, especially in May. In January? Maybe not. But that’s what the pedway is for.
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- Proximity to the Riverwalk: You can literally walk out the door and be on the water in 30 seconds.
- The Food Situation: You're surrounded by "power lunch" spots. We're talking Prime & Provisions or the various high-end spots in the Merchandise Mart across the bridge.
- The Vibe: It’s busy. It’s loud. It’s quintessentially Chicago.
Is 222 North LaSalle Chicago Still Relevant?
There’s a lot of talk lately about the "death of the office." LaSalle Street has been hit hard by high vacancy rates as companies migrate toward the West Loop. But 222 North LaSalle is holding its own. Why? Because it’s a "Class A" building that doesn't feel like a sterile lab.
The building offers amenities that actually matter. There's a massive fitness center, a high-end tenant lounge, and even a rooftop deck that offers views most people have to pay $40 at a tourist trap to see. Owners have dumped millions into keeping the infrastructure modern—fiber optics, updated HVAC, the works—while keeping the soul of the building intact. It’s a delicate balance.
Some critics argue that the Loop is becoming a ghost town after 6:00 PM. That's partially true. But the city is currently pushing a massive "LaSalle Street Reimagined" initiative to turn some of these older office buildings into residential units. While 222 remains primarily commercial, the influx of neighbors is changing the energy of the block. It’s becoming a neighborhood again, not just a place people flee at 5:01 PM.
The Real Cost of Being Here
Let's be real: leasing space here isn't cheap. You’re paying for the LaSalle Street address and the river frontage. Real estate taxes in Cook County are a headache, and that cost gets passed down. But when you look at the price per square foot compared to a brand-new glass box in the West Loop, 222 North LaSalle Chicago often comes out as a better value for firms that want "prestige" without the "trendy" markup.
It’s about the message the building sends. It says your company is stable. It says you value history. It says you aren't going to vanish in the next venture capital dry spell.
Navigating the Building's Quirks
If you’re visiting for a meeting or just exploring, keep a few things in mind. The security is tight—this isn't a mall. You’ll need a QR code or a check-in at the desk. The elevators are fast, but the building is big enough that you can get turned around if you aren't paying attention to the signage.
Also, the wind off the river at that specific corner is no joke. It’s like a wind tunnel. If it’s winter, hold onto your hat. Literally. I’ve seen more than one businessman lose a $200 fedora to the Chicago River because they underestimated the gust coming off Wacker Drive.
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Actionable Next Steps
If you're looking to engage with 222 North LaSalle Chicago, don't just stare at it from the street.
- For Architecture Nerds: Check out the Open House Chicago event held every October. This building often participates, allowing you to see the lobby and some of the higher floors without a badge.
- For Business Owners: If you're scouting office space, contact the leasing agents (currently managed by Sterling Bay or similar firms depending on the cycle) to see the "pre-built" suites. They often have spaces ready for immediate move-in that showcase the bridge-level views.
- For the Casual Visitor: Grab a coffee at a nearby shop and sit on the Riverwalk directly across from the building. It’s the best angle to see the 1980s vertical expansion and appreciate how the terracotta matches the newer stone perfectly.
- Check the Transit: If you're planning a commute, test the walk from the Clark/Lake station. It's the most efficient way to get there, but seeing the foot traffic at 8:30 AM will give you a real sense of the building's daily pulse.
The building isn't just a relic. It’s a working, breathing part of the Chicago machine. Whether you're there for a legal deposition or just admiring the way the sunset hits the terracotta, it’s a reminder that some things in this city are built to last.