Santa Fe Building

The Santa Fe building is a major feature of the historic Michigan Avenue «street wall.» It was designed by Daniel Burnham & Co. and completed in 1904. Burnham himself had his offices on the 14^th floor (though there is some dispute over that floor number). From there, he constructed his Plan of Chicago (1909) — an important work of city planning. Santa Fe has 17 stories and is steel framed with a terra cotta clad exterior and a beautiful interior. The combination of Santa Fe’s deep lightwell and its numerous large windows proved an efficient and elegant air handling system. Today, the upper floors have been enclosed in glass in a tasteful modification.
The Santa Fe building’s first floor houses a number of shops facing Michigan Avenue. Among them is the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s shop, which sells architecture, design, cartographic, and Chicago-​related merchandise. It also serves as the launching point for the foundation’s 60+ walking tours. The CAF also holds special events and programs to promote the appreciation of Chicago’s great architecture. The CAF’s model of Chicago occupies a large part of the building’s well-​ornamented atrium.
Several architectural firms, such as SOM and VOA have their offices on the upper floors of the building, which are closed to the public. The Santa Fe building, then, maintains its architectural significance both from the standpoint of its form and its tenants. Anyone interested in architecture or history should visit this magnificent building.