The Loop’s Century and Consumers high-rises became officially designated landmarks today through a rare municipal code process designed to protect historic and architecturally significant buildings.

The Century, at 202 S. State St., and the Consumers, at 220 S. State St., were each recommended for landmark status by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks in December 2023. The recommendations were advanced to City Council through the City Clerk’s office on Jan. 22, 2024. With the passage of one year without a vote on either property, the designations were today made official in the City Council Journal of Proceedings, retroactive to Jan. 22, 2025, according to Section 2-120-705 of the municipal code, which states:

“If the City Council does not take final action upon any landmark recommendation submitted by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to the City Council within 365 days of the date upon which the recommendation is filed with the City Council, landmark designation based upon the recommendation of the commission shall be granted.”

Both buildings have stood vacant since being purchased by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in 2005.

“The process was unique, but the outcome could not be more clear: The Consumers and Century buildings are officially recognized contributors to Chicago’s architectural legacy and should be preserved,” Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatright said. “The designations affirm the Loop’s world-class history of design, innovation and commerce, as well as the high regard we hold for future Chicagoans who can benefit from the values of their predecessors.”

The Century, completed in 1916, is a rare surviving “tall shops” building that housed retailers and wholesalers on multiple floors when State primarily consisted of low-rise structures and department stores. Designed by Holabird &Roche, the 16-story Gothic-style high-rise served mostly professional tenants in later years. Featuring a steel frame, plate glass windows, terra-cotta cladding and other character-defining features of the Chicago School of architecture, the building’s designation protects its exterior and two-story base from alteration while providing flexibility for potential rehabilitation and new uses.

The Consumers, completed in 1913, served traditional commercial tenants in need of wide-open floor plans and sunlight made possible by the structure’s thin, vertical piers and narrow spandrels that are typical of the Chicago School. Designed by Mundie & Jensen, the 21-story Classical Revival-style high-rise is completely clad in white terra cotta, and its original marble-clad elevator lobby remains intact. The designation protects the building’s exterior, vestibule and lobby from alteration while providing flexibility for potential rehabilitation and new uses.

Both structures are contributing buildings to the Loop Retail Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2022, Congress appropriated $52 million for the demolition of both buildings and two smaller structures located between them. The funding triggered a federally mandated Section 106 process that determined demolition would negatively impact both structures and prompted the GSA to issue a request for qualification (RFQ) for adaptive re-use projects. The RFQ’s submission deadline was Jan. 31, 2025. The GSA is expected to offer a request for lease to shortlisted respondents in coming weeks.

Section 2-120-705 of the municipal code was adopted in the mid-1990s to encourage City Council’s timely review of Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommendations.