Chicago Athletic Association, 12 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, IL

2008 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Honorable Mention
Significance: Founded in 1890 by elite Chicagoans such as Marshall Field, Cyrus McCormick, and A. G. Spalding, the Chicago Athletic Association was a not-for-profit organization that provided a setting for athletic, business, and social activities. In 1915, when member William Wrigley bought the Chicago Cubs, the team adopted the club's logo, permanently securing its place in Chicago history.

The Chicago Athletic Association building was constructed in 1893 and designed by noted architect Henry Ives Cobb. The principal façade is based on the Doges Palace in Venice, and was intended to give the Chicago Athletic Association a distinct identity when viewed from the lakefront, particularly by visitors to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1225
Survey number: HABS IL-1226
Building/structure dates: 1893 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1906 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1926 Subsequent Work