Fisher Building, Chicago

A Neo-Gothic landmark with a steel frame, the Fisher Building stands at a towering 275 feet in Chicago's Loop community area. When it was originally completed in 1896, it was one of only two 18-story buildings in the city, the other being the Masonic Building. Remarkably, it remains the city's oldest 18-story structure to this day, having never been demolished. In a complete reversal of fate, the building underwent a restoration process in 1998, when it was sold and slated for conversion from an office building into rental apartments.

The extensive restoration effort focused on its ornate facade, adorned with marine-themed motifs (as well as several eagles, dragons and other mythical creatures) as a nod to its developer, Lucius G. Fisher. This intricate process involved replacing over 6,000 terra-cotta elements. Furthermore, the previously destroyed main entrances on Dearborn Street and Plymouth Court were faithfully re-created, and 1,200 wood-frame windows, exemplary of the Chicago School style, were either repaired or replaced. The interior features restored mosaic flooring and Carrara marble walls, while the main lobby blends elements of both restoration and new design.