The Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended the designation of the Old Republic Building as a Chicago Landmark today as part of a proposed renovation of the historic skyscraper.

Completed in 1924 at 307 N. Michigan Ave., the 23-story structure was one of the first tall buildings constructed south of the Chicago River following the construction of the Michigan Avenue Bridge.

"The Old Republic helped set the standard for many other notable buildings on Michigan Avenue. It's been a visual focal point for decades and it deserves consideration for landmark status," said Commissioner Patti A. Scudiero.
 
The building's Classical Revival design by K.M Vitzthum & Co. features a tripartite division of base, shaft and capital. Clad in glazed terra cotta, it rises 264 feet, the full height allowed by zoning at the time for a building without a set-back tower, according to the commission's designation report.  

The building initially served as headquarters of the Bell and Zoller Coal Co. before being sold in 1956 to Old Republic Life Insurance Co. The insurance company maintains its corporate headquarters in the building and has 290 employees in Chicago.

The owner requested the landmark designation as part of a proposed $12.37 million rehabilitation project involving the building's exterior, building systems and common spaces. As part of the project, the building’s terra-cotta cladding and original cornice would be repaired. The landmark designation would make the building eligible for Cook County's Class L property tax incentive, which lowers the tax rates on designated landmarks for a 12-year period for qualified rehabilitation projects.

The commission's recommendation in favor of the designation and property tax incentive  will be forwarded to City Council for consideration.

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks is a 10-member board responsible for recommending properties for possible landmark designation. Established in 1968, it also reviews proposed work affecting designated landmarks and landmark districts. Staff services are provided by the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning.