Merchandise Mart
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Architect: Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
Year Completed: 1930
Location: North Bank of Chicago River between Wells and Franklin, Chicago, Illinois
Style: Art Deco
Merchandise Mart was built as a wholesale store by Marshall Field & Company. It was so large, that it had the the most square feet of any building (4.1 million square feet) until the Pentagon was built in Washington DC in the 1940s.
Graham, Anderson, Probst & White were second only to Holabird & Root in Chicago Art Deco architecture and they had a long-standing relationship with the Field family.
As is typical with Art Deco architecture, the building has art work that reflects the building's use. A mural in the lobby depicts commerce, and was created by Jules Guerin.
The depression brought declining sales and Marshall Field was forced to sell Merchandise Mart in 1945. It was purchased by Joseph P. Kennedy and the Kennedy family still owns it.
Merchandise Mart underwent a major renovation from 1986 to 1991. The building now houses showrooms for furniture and furnishing dealers as well as office space.