bcbs building chicago History and Notable Milestones

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Building in Chicago has a rich history that spans over a century. It was constructed in 1925, a time when the city's skyline was rapidly changing.

Located on the corner of Adams and Franklin Streets, the building was designed by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. This firm was known for its innovative and modern designs.

The building's original purpose was to serve as the headquarters for the Blue Cross Association, which was established in 1929. This marked a significant milestone in the history of healthcare in the United States.

The building's unique design features include a striking clock tower and a grand lobby with a sweeping staircase.

If this caught your attention, see: Bcbs History

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower is an impressive structure with a total of 57 floors, with the last accessible floor being 682ft off the ground. It has a significant amount of usable space, with a total of 2,299,987 sqf available.

The building has a substantial parking capacity, with 5226 spots available, which works out to roughly 97 spots per floor or one parking spot per every 441 sqf of usable space.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower is a great example of Contemporary architecture, but what exactly does that mean? Contemporary style builds on top of Modernism and Postmodernism, incorporating factors like technology, sustainability, and inclusivity.

From a historical perspective, it's tricky to categorize buildings from recent times, so we tend to group those built after 2000 as Contemporary. This might change as we gain more perspective on the present.

The tower's design is inspired by the international-style, which is a nod to its modern materials and construction techniques. The use of these elements is a hallmark of Contemporary architecture.

Here are some key facts about the tower's architectural style:

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower is a massive building with a total of 57 floors, 54 above ground and 3 basements. It's impressive to think about all the space that's packed into this building.

The tower reaches an architectural height of 745ft (227m), with the last accessible floor being 682ft (208m) off the ground. That's a lot of vertical space!

The building has a total of 36 elevators, which offer a combined 2,299,987 sqf (213,676m) of usable space. That's a lot of room for people to move around.

In terms of parking, the building has a total of 5226 spots available. That's roughly 97 spots per floor above ground.

The bcbs building in Chicago underwent a significant transformation from 2007 to 2010, with the addition of 24 floors, increasing its height from 142 to 227 meters and total area.

James Goettsch was the architect in charge of this expansion, showcasing his forward-thinking design and engineering ingenuity.

BCBSIL's new 103,000-square-foot facility in Pilsen is its fifth facility in Chicago and will house up to 300 customer service and information technology personnel.

The company is initially hiring up to 70 customer service positions, with an emphasis on bilingual applicants, and will host a hiring day on August 10 at the new location.

The facility includes break and training rooms, as well as 210 parking spaces, including 185 in an adjacent garage.

BCBSIL has a 10-year lease for the 100-year-old former lumber distribution facility, which has been converted into a modern office building with its original exposed brick and timber interior décor.

The building's timeline is a remarkable story of growth and innovation. From 2007 to 2010, the health insurer's headquarters underwent a significant transformation.

The restoration project added 24 floors to the original structure, increasing the building's height from 142 to 227 meters. This expansion also significantly increased the total area of the building.

The architect in charge of this project was James Goettsch, who showcased his expertise in forward-thinking design and engineering ingenuity.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is continuing to expand its presence in Chicago with the opening of its fifth facility in the city. Located in Pilsen, the new office will house 300 customer service and information technology personnel.

The facility is situated at 920 W. Cullerton and spans 103,000 square feet. It's a converted 100-year-old lumber distribution facility that features exposed brick and timber interior décor.

BCBSIL is initially hiring up to 70 customer service positions, with an emphasis on bilingual applicants. These positions require six months of experience in customer service and come with a starting wage of $18 an hour, plus a 401(k) plan and health insurance.

A hiring day will be held on August 10 at the new Pilsen location, where job seekers can apply for open roles. Compensation for the approximately 30 Information Technology roles will depend on work experience, and also includes a 401(k) plan and health insurance.

The new facility will meet rising demand for Spanish-language member inquiries and becomes BCBSIL's 18th facility in Illinois.