25 Feb historically important white glazed terra cotta ornament from the conway building – daniel burnham’s – “last commission” – joins bld. 51 museum
February 25, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Uncategorized
the burnham center, formerly known as the conway building and later the chicago title & trust building, is an historic skyscraper in chicago, illinois. funded by the marshall field estate, it was daniel burnham’s final design before his death in 1912, completed in 1913.
the burnham center replaced the chicago opera house (built 1885) and was part of marshall field’s real estate investment plan, which also funded the pittsfield building (1927) and field building (1934). burnham, a frequent collaborator with field, designed the building with frederick dinkelberg; after burnham’s passing in june 1912, ernest r. graham, peirce anderson, and edward probst finished the project under graham, burnham & co. the structure resembles burnham’s flatiron building in new york city, sharing beaux-arts styling, rounded corners, and likely influenced by rome’s palazzo di propaganda fide.
the national park service listed the burnham center on the national register of historic places in 1984. previously housing the chicago title & trust co., its headquarters became the burnham center after 1992. today, it hosts the corporate offices of grubhub.
late 1920s or early 1930s original chicago architectural photographing company photographic image of d.h. burnham and company’s 21-story terra cotta-clad conway or chicago title and trust company building (1913), located at 111 west washington street, chicago, il.
the building was designed by frederick p. dinkelberg. after daniel burnham’s death in 1912, it was taken over and completed by graham, burnham, and company.
the white or cream-colored interior lobby terra cotta ornament was fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, il.
