Palmolive Building in Chicago, Illinois

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One of Chicago's most magnificent examples of art deco architecture stands proudly as The Palmolive Building. As the city modernized around it, this iconic landmark has changed with the times and adapted to its surroundings. Like a classic Chicago diner serving up runny eggs on the Loop or a stylish fedora hat worn on LaSalle Street, The Palmolive Building remains an integral part of the city's identity. While presenting a narrow side to the winds of Lake Michigan, it broadly looks over the heart of Chicago with its distinctive setbacks and art deco flair. Its design evokes memories of vintage French poster art, where steam locomotives are often depicted in stylized detail. Originally built as the headquarters for Colgate-Palmolive-Peet company, The Palmolive Building marked the end of Michigan Avenue at a time when the boulevard was home to upscale shops and apartment houses. However, like many companies that started in Chicago, Palmolive eventually moved on to New York in 1934. The building retained its name until Playboy Enterprises took over in 1966, renaming it after their publishing company. As the publishing industry declined at the turn of the 21st century, Playboy relocated to smaller offices nearby and The Palmolive Building once again became known by its original name. Over the decades, the city grew up around this iconic tower, providing a visual link between historic buildings like the Drake Hotel and modern skyscrapers like the John Hancock Center. Although it once stood proudly as a sentinel over North Michigan Avenue, today The Palmolive Building is often lost in the city's towering landscape. As its neighbors grew taller, they also became more demanding, leading to the removal of the historic aircraft beacon that was once a notable feature. In the 1980s, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill renovated the lower floors into better retail space, which has been successful but somewhat divorced from the tower above. In 2004, the process began to convert The Palmolive Building into residences, with architect Laurence Booth successfully transforming the office building while preserving its historic charm. Today, residents have turned the art deco setbacks into open-air patios, installing art, plants, and even putting greens – making the building more interesting than ever. Construction start: 1927 Construction finish: 1929 Designed by: Holabird & Root Renovated: 2004-2005 by Booth Hansen Associates Type: Skyscraper Stories: 37 Maximum Height: 565 feet / 172 meters This iconic skyscraper is part of the "Scan The World" initiative, a non-profit project that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe. If you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan).