[3] Before the Chicago Fire, the area directly along the river was predominantly commercial warehouses.

As commercial real estate pressure increased, the area saw a trend of redevelopment.

With the completion of Union Station in 1925, Carson Pirie Scott began plans to create office space in place of their warehouse.

Only a few months later, the plan was revised to include the demolition of the existing structure and its replacement with an entirely new twelve-story office building.

The McLennan Construction company was the general contractor, and the building was completed by April 1, 1927.