Wrigley Building in Chicago, Illinois

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The Wrigley Building, situated at 400-410 North Michigan Avenue on the Near North Side in Chicago, Illinois, is a skyscraper positioned directly across from the Tribune Tower on the Magnificent Mile. At its groundbreaking in 1920, there were no significant office buildings north of the Chicago River and the Michigan Avenue Bridge was still under construction. William Wrigley Jr., chewing gum magnate, selected this land to house his company's headquarters. The Graham, Anderson, Probst & White architectural firm designed the building with a combination of French Renaissance details and the shape of Seville's Cathedral Giralda tower. In April 1921, the 425-foot south tower was completed, followed by the north tower in May 1924. Walkways connecting the towers were added at ground level and the third floor. An additional walkway was installed at the fourteenth floor in 1931 to accommodate bank offices according to a Chicago statute. The two towers, excluding levels below Michigan Avenue, cover a total area of 453,433 square feet. The Wrigley Building was Chicago's first air-conditioned office building. Walking through the central entrance leads to a secluded park overlooking the Chicago River. The south tower stands at 30 stories, while the north tower reaches 21 stories. A clock with faces pointing in all directions adorns the south tower; each face measures 19 feet 7 inches in diameter. The building's gleaming white façade is clad in glazed terra cotta, which requires occasional hand washing to preserve its appearance. At night, the entire structure is illuminated by floodlights. In 2011, a group of investors including Zeller Realty Group and Groupon co-founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell acquired the Wrigley Building. The new owners plan to enhance the building's appeal by adding amenities such as a Walgreens store, coffee shop, fitness center, and a nursing room for mothers.