History of the Building
On October 2, 1991, the facade of the building at 626 North Michigan Avenue, which is owned and occupied by the Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago, was designated a landmark by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. In its report to the City of Chicago, the Commission set the context for this historic building by discussing the history of North Michigan Avenue, originally called Pine Street -- a quiet, a tree-shaded residential area lined with imposing Victorian mansions. By the early 20th century, many of the mansions had been remodeled as warehouses, soap factories, and breweries. This would not last long, however, as city planners were actively trying to improve Chicago's reputation.
The Chicago Commercial Club headed this planning effort, which resulted in the creation of the Chicago Plan of 1909 by Daniel H. Burnham and E. H. Bennett. This plan was perhaps the most important piece of urban design and planning of the 20th century. The plan outlined the development of a system of lakefront parks, beaches, yacht harbors, and piers. The idea called for a string of recreational offshore islands, which was a device to bring the city into the lake and vice versa. Another initiative was the widening of Pine Street into a boulevard connecting the north and south sides of the river. That boulevard is today's Michigan Avenue.
Another important outcome was the formation of the North Central Association (now the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association), which was established to monitor the "architectural character and aesthetic caliber of the new structures to be built along this new commercial artery." In 1918, The Economist reported on the Association's proceedings:
"Plans are now taking shape by which North Michigan Avenue from Randolph Street to Chicago Avenue will be converted into one of the most attractive and fashionable thoroughfares in the world. Both sides of the thoroughfare, which will form a fashionable promenade, will be lined with the shops of milliners, modesties, gold and silver smiths, interior decorators, but no automobile service stations, factories, laundries, or saloons will be permitted."
Architect Philip Brooks Maher and The Woman's Athletic Club
It was in this rich and ambitious environment that the members of the Woman's Athletic Club decided to relocate and build a new clubhouse. Founded in 1898, the Club has the distinction of being the very first athletic club for women in the United States. Members were from among Chicago's most prominent families, "well-educated and well-traveled, and therefore knowledgeable about and appreciative of the most urbane architectural traditions."
The Club commissioned architect Philip B. Maher, a native of Kenilworth, Illinois, and the son of renowned residential architect George W. Maher, to design a building at the northwest corner of Ontario Street and Michigan Avenue on property they had leased for 99 years with an option to purchase.
Maher had designed a number of buildings along North Michigan Avenue. According to the commission's report, Maher drew his inspiration for this clubhouse "from the grandeur of Paris during the reign of Napoleon III (1852-1870), historically classified as the Second Empire." The report stated:
"The Mansard roof, central pavilion, and tall arched first-floor windows are hallmarks of this style. Rising nine stories, the building is principally clad in smooth-faced gray Bedford limestone with polished black granite facing the ground floor balanced by the charcoal gray shingles of the roof. The main body of the Michigan Avenue elevation is eight bays wide, flanked by single window bays separated by finely incised quions . . . large arched windows, two-story in height, and fronted by wrought-iron balconnettes, denote this space on North Michigan Avenue as does a graceful Palladian window on the Ontario Street facade. . . The seventh and eight floors . . . likewise feature grand windows encased with Doric pilasters. Above the windows are carved stone panels with swags of drapery and rosettes."
From the purely ancient Greek and Roman vocabulary, Maher used ornamentation such as Vitruvian scrolls, a wave pattern, and bands of anthemion and acanthus leaves. And from the animal world he employed bucrane (ox skulls with garland-festooned horns), and winged griffins, which can be seen in arched niches on the upper story. His subtle humor can be seen in the lioness heads (for a woman's club) at the roof line of the seventh floor elevation.
In its landmark ordinance, the City of Chicago states that "The Woman's Athletic Club, with its grand French Empire styling and positioning of storefronts along the street, becomes a uniquely American building type melding Old World elegance with Yankee ingenuity and, further, now stands out as a quintessential example of its design, detail and craftsmanship, the standard of architectural excellence aspired to be those architects commissioned for the first buildings along this now justly famous Chicago street."
Under Chicago City Code, after a building has been designated a landmark, no permit for alteration, construction, reconstruction or other work may be issued by the City without the written approval of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.
A copy of the full report on 626 North Michigan Avenue can be obtained from the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission.
