Noted for its streamlined industrial design and large expanses of glass, the former headquarters of one of the country's largest mail-order companies was recommended for landmark status and a property tax incentive today by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

The Spiegel Administration Building, 1038 W. 35th St., was once the center of an 11-building complex of warehouses and other buildings that served Spiegel Inc. for much of the last century.

"The Spiegel building is an outstanding example of how reinforced-concrete construction helped businesses to modernize the look and function of their industrial facilities. It also represents an important era when Chicago was the mail-order capital of the United States. It's a wonderful candidate for designation as an official landmark," said Rafael M. Leon, Landmarks Commission chairman.

The six-story, Moderne structure is one of the most significant industrial structures remaining in Chicago's original Central Manufacturing District, one of the first planned industrial developments in the country. Constructed in two phases between 1936 and 1942, the building's initial two stories were designed by the engineering firm Battey & Kipp. Its four-story addition was designed by noted engineer and architect Abraham Epstein.

Spiegel, Inc. was founded in 1865 by Civil War veteran Joseph Spiegel, who moved to Chicago following his release from a Southern prisoner-of-war camp. Originally a furniture retailer, the company expanded in 1907 to include mail-order operations. By offering merchandise on credit and utilizing other modern sales techniques, the company flourished and eventually became the largest business in the manufacturing district. Along with Sears Roebuck and Co. and Montgomery Ward, Spiegel firmly established Chicago as the epicenter of the nation's mail-order operations.

The company's modern aesthetic was reflected in the administration building's architecture. With clean, sharp lines formed by bands of steel-framed windows and vertical columns of glass block, the loft-style structure provided an abundance of light, fresh air and flexible work spaces compared with older, more traditional industrial buildings within the district, according to the Landmark Commission's designation report.

After the Spiegel family sold the company to a financial firm in 1965, the building was used for merchandise distribution. In 1993, all company operations were moved out of state.

Currently vacant, the building is proposed for a $54 million mixed-use redevelopment by 35th & Morgan Development Corp. The developer is seeking participation in Cook County's Class L property tax incentive program, which is available for designated landmarks undergoing significant rehabilitation projects. The Landmarks Commission recommended approval of the building's Class L eligibility and proposed redevelopment with commercial and residential uses. The project would incorporate sustainabile design elements, including a vegetative green roof. Total tax savings would be approximately $1.9 million over a 12-year period.

The Commission’s recommendations regarding landmark designation and the Class L 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.