Chicago’s history is reflected in its architecture, and Columbia’s campus is no different. Here are historical facts about three campus buildings.

Transcript:

0:05: Welcome to Three to Know with the Columbia Chronicle, your go to source for the top three things every Columbia College student, faculty and staff member needs to know. 

0:14: I’m your host, Levi Libson. 

0:17: Chicago is a city with a rich history often reflected in its architecture and civil engineering. 

0:22: As such, today we’ll take a walk through the past, quite literally, exploring the buildings you make your way through every single day. 

0:29: So without further ado, let’s begin with 1104 S. Wabash Ave.

0:34: 1104 S. Wabash Ave., otherwise known as the 1104 Center, was designed in 1891 by William L. Jenney and W.B. Mundie and later renovated in 1920 by A.S. Coffen. 

0:45: Jenney is widely considered and acknowledged as the creator of the skyscraper due to his usage of metal frames in his building designs for stability. 

0:53: Originally, the 1104 Center was called the Ludington Building, named after Mary Ludington Barnes, who had initially commissioned the construction of the building for the American Book Company. 

1:01: A little known fact that all avid readers should know about is that Mary’s husband, Charles Barnes, helped create the Barnes & Noble bookstore many people are now familiar with. 

1:10: Going back to metal framing once more, the 1104 building is considered one of the earliest surviving steel frame buildings still in Chicago. Utilizing fireproof terra cotta tiles, it’s renowned for its safety and durability. 

1:21: This building is a piece of history defining cities and learning even a century later. 

1:27: Our next building, 618 S. Michigan Ave. 

1:30: 618 S. Michigan Ave. was acquired by Columbia in 2006. 

1:34: Its initial name was the Arcade Building, and it was designed by William Carbys Zimmerman in 1913. 

1:39: An interesting fact about this building’s history with our college is that the seventh floor was previously occupied by us between 1927 and 1936 before we later acquired it. 

1:49: In the early 1950s, this building was additionally occupied by the International Business Machines Corporation, otherwise known as IBM. 

1:57: Later in the building’s life, the outer facade was replaced to meet safety regulations. 

2:01: This new facade presents itself as the clear, windowy appearance we see today. 

2:05: This can be seen as both a way of shedding new light on an old building, quite literally, or even the transformation of Chicago itself from a commercial powerhouse into a city of vibrant art. 

2:17: Our final building to go over is 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. 

2:21: Designed in 1925 by infamous architect Alfred S. Alschuler, this building, like many others, was commissioned this time by real estate developer Ferdinand W. Peck Jr. 

 2:30: By the 1940s, the building was known as the Congress Bank Building, reflecting its largest tenant at the time.  

2:36: Decades later, in the 1980s, Columbia began using its space and soon bought it, acquiring the property in 1999. 

2:43: Today the building houses the college’s radio station, where I’m recording right now, department offices and classrooms. 

2:50: This building is a vital part of our campus adopting the name of Ida B. Wells, a famous journalist and civil rights activist. 

2:57: Architecturally, 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive contains a reinforced concrete frame, showing off a facade of marble and rock. 

3:04: This style of building was described as an Italian Renaissance in a 1929 advertisement, which is quite an accurate description. 

3:13: Subscribe to our newsletters on our website, columbiachronicle.com.  

3:16: Be sure to also check out Chronversations for weekly campus highlights. 

3:20: Oh, and one more thing, on the 29th of this month, Three to Know will be publishing a Halloween-themed episode covering your spooky stories. 

3:27: If you have a story you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out to my email at Llibson@columbiachronicle.com. 

3:35: Again, that’s Llibson@columbiachronicle.com. 

3:39: I’m Levi Libson. 

3:41: Thanks for listening. 

Copy edited by Mya DeJesus