On Sept. 3, 1998, Century Tower was added to the National Register of Historical Buildings. The official report cites the building as a “significant complement to Chicago’s collection of steel framed, limestone skyscrapers which tell the story of the city’s development in the 1920s.” Additionally, on Jan. 14, 2004, the building was designated as an official Chicago Landmark. The report calls the building “one of Chicago’s most distinctive Jazz Age skyscrapers.”

Photo by Rachel Baldauf

Other efforts have been made to physically preserve the building as well. By the summer of 1994, much of Century Tower was in disrepair. The building’s proximity to the L causes constant shaking, which had taken its toll on the building over the years. Scaffolding had to be constructed in order to catch falling bricks from the building’s facade. Additionally, water had seeped into Edgar Miller’s grillework, causing the lead to rust. Thankfully, in 2003, firm Fitzgerald & Associates repaired the building before converting the interior into an apartment complex.