The gleaming white Wrigley Building is one of America’s most famous office towers. Located on Michigan Avenue on the north bank of the Chicago River, at the southern most point of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the Wrigley Building consists of two sections connected by an open walkway at street level and two enclosed walkways.

The land for the building, chosen by William Wrigley Jr., is unique because of its triangular shape. Mr. Wrigley’s goal was to create an impressive headquarters for his successful chewing gum company and the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue was the perfect location. During January 1920, when excavation for the building began, the Michigan Avenue Bridge was under construction, and the portion of the avenue north of the river was then known as Pine Street. The Wrigley Building became the pioneer structure in the development of the north Michigan Avenue business district.

The architectural shape of the Wrigley Building is patterned after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. However, the ornamental design of the building is based on an American adaptation of French Renaissance style. Mr. Charles Beersman, chief designer for the building’s architects, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, used his talent and imagination to combine the two concepts.

On November 11, 1920, the building’s cornerstone was laid for the southern tower. Office space in this part of the building was already entirely rented when construction was completed in April of the following year. In May of 1924, the north tower was completed and connected to the south section with walkways at street level and between the third floors. Later, in 1931, a 14th floor walkway was put in place.

The two towers, not including the levels below Michigan Avenue, have a combined area of 453,433 square feet. While the north section of the building is equivalent to 21 stories, the south section, with its clock tower, totals 30 stories. From upper Michigan Avenue, the distance to the spire at the top of this tower is 425 feet. The giant two-story clock in the south tower features four dials, each 19 feet, 7 inches in diameter. Each dial has an hour hand that measures 6 feet, 4 inches and a minute hand that is 9 feet, 2 inches long. These clock hands were originally made of redwood, but were recently refashioned in aircraft-grade aluminum to increase their durability. Because of its multiple dials and prominent positioning, people coming from all directions use the clock to check the time.

One of the most striking features of the Wrigley Building results from being clad in approximately 250,000 individual glazed terra cotta tiles, the most extensive use of terra cotta in the world during the time of construction. Each tile is uniquely identified in a computer database that enables consistent tracking and maintenance of each and every tile located on the building. The interior of the building contains extensive brasswork throughout each of the tower's lobbies, including the entryway, elevator doors and lobby clock.