The Merchandise Mart
So enormous it once had its own zip code.
Key facts
- Completed 1930
- Once the largest building in the world by floor area
- About 4 million square feet of space
- Had its own zip code until 2008
- Built for Marshall Field & Company
Narration transcript
Coming up on your right, take in the sheer size of the Merchandise Mart, because size is the whole point of this building. When it was completed in 1930 for the Marshall Field's department store company, it was the largest building in the entire world by floor area, with around four million square feet of space spread across its blocky, fortress-like form. It was so gigantic, and had so many workers and businesses inside, that for decades it had its very own zip code, just like a small town. It only gave that up in 2008. It sits right on the river and was built as a wholesale center, a giant indoor marketplace where store buyers came to see the latest furniture and goods. Here is a fun detail for the kids: out front, along the river, stands a row of giant bronze busts on tall pillars, a Hall of Fame honoring famous American merchants. At night, the whole enormous facade becomes a canvas for glowing digital art projected across its surface. Family tip: try to guess how many football fields could fit inside. With four million square feet, the answer is dozens.