A historic Chicago Loop apartment tower wrapped in ornate terra cotta is now looking for a new owner. The Fisher Building, one of downtown’s most recognizable residential conversions, has been listed for sale.
The 20-story building at 343 South Dearborn Street houses 184 apartments and remains an active rental property. The listing was first reported Wednesday by Crain’s Chicago Business, which identified the property as a newly marketed Loop apartment tower.
A Burnham Landmark With A Second Life As Housing
The Fisher Building dates to 1896, with a later north addition completed in 1907. Designed by D.H. Burnham and Co. and Peter J. Weber, the building is known for its Gothic-inspired terra-cotta facade, which features eagles, mythical beasts, fish and other aquatic details.
The City of Chicago’s landmarks records say the Fisher Building received landmark designation in 1978. Its architecture was not exactly the subtle type, with the facade’s carved creatures making sure nobody mistook the place for a generic glass box.
The Building Was Rescued Through Adaptive Reuse
The Fisher Building spent much of its early life as an office property before being converted into apartments around the turn of the century. That transformation helped preserve a building that had faced the familiar downtown problem of expensive repairs and changing demand for older commercial space.
According to Landmarks Illinois, the restoration replaced more than 4,000 missing pieces of terra cotta, repaired historic windows and staircases, and restored portions of the building’s original corridors and entrances. The project also benefited from federal rehabilitation tax credits and local tax-increment financing.
It Is Still Being Marketed As A Working Rental Community
The building’s leasing website continues to market studios, convertible apartments, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, along with two-bedroom penthouses. Amenities advertised for residents include a 24-hour concierge, fitness center, clubroom, business center and on-site retail.
The sale does not mean the apartments are being offered individually or that the building is being emptied. Instead, the listing places a restored Chicago landmark and its income-producing residential operation in front of investors, with any future ownership change likely to be watched closely by renters and preservation-minded observers alike.
