The Gage Group Buildings of South Michigan Avenue

Step onto the cobblestones of South Michigan Avenue and find the heart of Chicago's history in the Gage Group Buildings. Crafted between 1890 and 1899, these architectural structures were designed by Holabird & Roche for the millinery firms of Gage, Keith, and Ascher. Among them, the building at 18 S. Michigan Avenue features an ornamental façade designed by Louis Sullivan.

Once called the Gage Brothers and Company Building, this structure stands as one of only five buildings in Chicago designed by Sullivan as a solo architect that are still standing. When four stories were added in 1902 by different architects, the ornamental flourishes at the top of Sullivan's façade were pushed upwards. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1996. It also serves as a contributing property for the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District.

The two smaller buildings to the south are also part of the Gage Group Buildings. The Edson Keith and Company Building is connected to the Gage Building at 24 S. Michigan Avenue. The Theodore Ascher and Company Building, also known as the 30 South Michigan Building, completes the group. These buildings demonstrate two different approaches to the Chicago School, with the straightforward designs by Holabird & Roche contrasting with the more expressive approach of Sullivan's façade.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons