Relics of Retail
Recently Adam had a posting on his Invisible Paris blog about the vacant Samaritaine
department store in Paris, and it made me think of Chicago's former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. store building on State Street.
[Schlesinger & Mayer Store (1899, 1903-04) Louis Sullivan, 1 S. State Street, Chicago, November 27, 2009 /Images
& Artwork: designslinger]
Designed by Louis Sullivan for retailers Schlesinger & Mayer in 1899 and 1903, this was
Sullivan's last, large commercial commission.
[Carson Pirie Scott & Co. department store building undergoing renovation, October & November, 2009 /Images
& Artwork: designslinger]
In 1904 the building became the home of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and the building grew to
its current size in the intervening decades. I was surprised on our return to Chicago in June to find that Carsons had vacated and closed the building in 2007. Unlike Samaritaine which stands empty while awaiting its future destiny, the old Carsons has a few new commercial tenants while it undergoes an extensive rehab.
[Detail of restored store facade and signage /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
As the construction scaffolding comes down and the gleaming new exterior of the newly
christened Sullivan Center is revealed, plans for the interior of the building remain somewhat up-in-the-air. Offices are in the works for the upper floors of the old retail space, but the rehabbed retail spaces on the lower floors may remain empty for some time to come given the current economic conditions. There was a wealth of Sullivan detailing inside the former store, especially on the lower floors. Once those spaces are completed, hopefully we'll still find those Sullivan flourishes polished and intact.
Thanks Adam for the inspiration.
See related post: Sullivan in Detail
department store in Paris, and it made me think of Chicago's former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. store building on State Street.
& Artwork: designslinger]
Designed by Louis Sullivan for retailers Schlesinger & Mayer in 1899 and 1903, this was
Sullivan's last, large commercial commission.
& Artwork: designslinger]
In 1904 the building became the home of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and the building grew to
its current size in the intervening decades. I was surprised on our return to Chicago in June to find that Carsons had vacated and closed the building in 2007. Unlike Samaritaine which stands empty while awaiting its future destiny, the old Carsons has a few new commercial tenants while it undergoes an extensive rehab.
As the construction scaffolding comes down and the gleaming new exterior of the newly
christened Sullivan Center is revealed, plans for the interior of the building remain somewhat up-in-the-air. Offices are in the works for the upper floors of the old retail space, but the rehabbed retail spaces on the lower floors may remain empty for some time to come given the current economic conditions. There was a wealth of Sullivan detailing inside the former store, especially on the lower floors. Once those spaces are completed, hopefully we'll still find those Sullivan flourishes polished and intact.
Thanks Adam for the inspiration.
See related post: Sullivan in Detail
Posted by designslinger at 11/30/2009 2:00 AM 
Categories: Cities, Architecture, History, Preservation
Tags: Chicago Louis Sullivan State Street
Categories: Cities, Architecture, History, Preservation
Tags: Chicago Louis Sullivan State Street
Thanks for the mention. What a fantastic building! There are several other less well known 'dead' department stores in Paris which I will try to feature soon!
Can't wait!
I was just thinking about Relics of Retail and you've really helped out. Thanks!
You're welcome!