This landmark of the Chicago school of architecture gained fame for being one of the earliest commercial buildings constructed with a metal skeleton frame remaining in the United States.

The building was leased by Levi Leiter to the department store of Siegel, Cooper and Company who occupied it for approximately seven years.

[2] After Siegel Cooper closed, the building hosted various tenants until it became the downtown flagship store of Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1931.

The pilasters are capped by simple capitals and an unadorned cornice crowns the entire structure.

[2] Its predecessor, the First Leiter Building, was designed by Jenney in 1879 and stood at Wells and Monroe until it was demolished in 1972.