The structure at 14 E. Jackson Blvd stands as a testament to Chicago's ability to reinvent its architectural heritage. Known today as the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building, this 18-story cornerstone of DePaul University’s Loop campus represents more than just academic square footage. It is a bridge between the city’s early 20th-century commercial grandiosity and its 21st-century identity as a global hub for media, communication, and professional education. For students, locals, and architecture enthusiasts, understanding this building requires peeling back layers of terra cotta and retail history to see how a former department store became a cutting-edge laboratory for future storytellers.

The Retail Legacy of the Lytton Building

Before it was a center for higher learning, the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building was known for nearly a century as the Lytton Building. Completed in 1913, it was designed by the prestigious architectural firm Marshall and Fox, the same creative minds behind iconic Chicago landmarks like the Drake Hotel and the Blackstone Hotel. At the time of its construction, the building was a centerpiece of State Street’s "Greatest Retail District in the World."

Henry C. Lytton, one of the pioneers of the modern department store, commissioned the structure to house his burgeoning apparel empire, Henry C. Lytton & Sons (later simply known as Lytton’s). The architecture reflected the optimism of the era. Utilizing a steel-frame construction typical of the Chicago School, Marshall and Fox clad the building in ornate, white glazed terra cotta. This material was not only aesthetically striking—shimmering against the Chicago skyline—but also practical, as it was fire-resistant and easy to clean in an era when coal smoke still dominated the city's air.

For decades, the Lytton Building was synonymous with luxury and menswear. Its wide windows and expansive floor plates were designed to display the latest fashions to the thousands of pedestrians traversing the intersection of State and Jackson. Even today, if you look closely at the exterior ornamentation near the lower levels, you can see the intricate craftsmanship that defined the "Chicago School" style, characterized by a clear expression of the building's internal structure through its external grid.

DePaul University’s Strategic Acquisition

The transition from retail to academia began in earnest in 2008. DePaul University, which had long been an anchor of the South Loop, acquired the 384,000-square-foot structure to accommodate its rapidly expanding programs. The acquisition was a bold move, adding significant capacity to what was already becoming a vibrant "college town" in the heart of the business district.

Transforming a century-old department store into a modern university building was no small feat. DePaul invested approximately $37 million in a comprehensive renovation project. This wasn't just a cosmetic facelift; it was a structural and technological overhaul. The goal was to preserve the historic integrity of the terra cotta facade while completely gutting and reimagining ten full floors of interior space. The result was a seamless blend of historic charm and high-tech utility. The project received recognition from civic groups like the Friends of Downtown, highlighting DePaul’s role in historic preservation through adaptive reuse.

The Significance of the Naming

In December 2011, the building was officially dedicated as the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building. This naming was a milestone, as it marked the first time a major building in Chicago was named in honor of the 54th Mayor of Chicago and his wife, Maggie C. Daley. The dedication recognized their collective impact on the city’s landscape, particularly in the realms of education, the arts, and urban revitalization.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, a DePaul alumnus (both undergraduate and law school), oversaw a period of dramatic downtown transformation, including the creation of Millennium Park and the revitalization of the Theatre District. Maggie Daley was equally influential, specifically through her advocacy for youth programs. Her seminal work with the After School Matters initiative provided thousands of Chicago teenagers with opportunities in the arts, sciences, and communications—sectors that now thrive within the very walls of this building.

The naming serves as a symbolic link between the university and the city's leadership. It acknowledges a shared vision of an "educated workforce" and a "world-class city" where the South Loop serves as a primary engine for cultural and economic growth.

Inside the College of Communication and CDM

Today, the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building serves as the primary home for DePaul’s College of Communication and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. It also houses significant facilities for the College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM). The interior is a hive of creative activity that contrasts sharply with its historic exterior.

Multimedia and Production Facilities

For media students, the building is essentially a giant high-tech playground. It features specialized resources that are rare in an urban campus setting:

  • Green Screen Studios: Located in the heart of the building, these studios allow students to practice advanced cinematography and visual effects work.
  • Control Rooms and Editing Suites: Professional-grade control rooms allow for live broadcast simulations, while a network of editing suites provides the software and hardware necessary for high-end post-production.
  • The Mac Lab: A staple for digital designers and data science students, the labs are equipped with the latest industry-standard software.
  • Performance Spaces: The College of Communication utilizes various spaces within the building for public speaking, performance studies, and screening events.

The School of Continuing and Professional Studies

The building is also a hub for adult learners and those returning to higher education. The School of Continuing and Professional Studies focuses on flexible, practical degree programs. The central location in the Loop makes it an ideal spot for working professionals to attend evening classes or weekend seminars, further reinforcing the building’s role as a bridge between the academic and corporate worlds.

A Guide for Students and Visitors: Navigating the Space

Navigating an 18-story historic building that has been repurposed can be tricky. Based on the experiences of those who frequent 14 E. Jackson, here are some practical insights for getting the most out of the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building.

The Elevator Strategy

One of the most frequent "pro-tips" from DePaul students involves the elevator banks. The building has different elevator groups serving different floors. The elevators on the State Street side are generally recommended for accessing floors below the 8th floor. Because the building also houses external tenants and human resources (located on the 13th floor), the elevators can get crowded during class changeovers. If you have a class on a lower floor, the stairs are often a faster and more reliable option.

Classroom Quirks

The adaptation of retail floor plates means that classroom layouts can sometimes be unconventional. For instance, some of the CDM (Computing and Digital Media) classrooms feature dual-screen setups but might only utilize a single projector for specific lectures. Students often recommend sitting on the left side of certain rooms to get the best viewing angle of the primary display. Furthermore, the 14th floor offers some of the best quiet study nooks with views overlooking the bustling intersection of State and Jackson.

The Human Resources and Administrative Hub

Beyond classrooms, the building is a critical administrative node for the university. DePaul’s Human Resources office is situated on the 13th floor, and other key administrative offices, including elements of Academic Affairs and the Office of Advancement, operate here. This mix of high-level administration and student-facing labs creates a unique environment where the university’s future is both planned and practiced.

The South Loop Education Corridor

The Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building does not exist in a vacuum. It is a vital component of the South Loop’s "Education Corridor." This area is home to one of the largest concentrations of students in the Midwest, with over 65,000 students from various institutions living and learning in the downtown area.

By occupying and revitalizing historic structures like 14 E. Jackson, DePaul has helped stabilize and energize the South Loop. The presence of the building helps support local retail, food trucks at nearby Daley Plaza (though that is a separate site named after the elder Daley), and the overall safety and vibrancy of the neighborhood. The building’s ground-floor retail spaces along State Street and Jackson Boulevard ensure that it remains integrated into the city’s commercial fabric, maintaining the legacy of the original Lytton Building as a place of business.

Architectural Preservation in a Modern Context

From an architectural standpoint, the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building is a successful example of how Chicago preserves its "Landmark" quality without turning its downtown into a museum. The terra cotta restoration was meticulous. Unlike modern glass-and-steel skyscrapers, the Daley Building has a tactile, hand-crafted quality. The cream-colored facade reflects light differently at various times of the day, a characteristic of the high-quality glazing used by Marshall and Fox.

Inside, the renovation managed to hide the massive amounts of data cabling and HVAC infrastructure required for a modern media school without compromising the ceiling heights that were a hallmark of early 20th-century department stores. The wide bays and sturdy steel columns that once supported racks of suits and heavy display cases now support server racks and heavy-duty camera equipment.

Distinguishing the Daleys: A Common Confusion

It is worth noting a common point of confusion for visitors to Chicago. The city has several major landmarks named after the Daley family. The Richard J. Daley Center (at 50 W. Washington St) is the famous modernist skyscraper housing the Cook County courts and the iconic Picasso sculpture. That building is named after the father, Mayor Richard J. Daley.

The Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building at 14 E. Jackson is a distinct entity, named after the son and his wife. While the Daley Center is a monument to the International Style of architecture (glass and steel), the Daley Building is a monument to the Chicago School (terra cotta and masonry). Both are essential to the city's story, but they serve very different functions in the urban landscape.

The Future of 14 E. Jackson

As we look toward the future of urban education, the Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building serves as a model for sustainability. Adaptive reuse—the process of taking an existing building and giving it a new purpose—is the most sustainable form of construction. By choosing to renovate rather than demolish, DePaul University reduced the carbon footprint associated with creating a 400,000-square-foot facility.

Moreover, the building continues to evolve. As media technology shifts from traditional broadcast to virtual reality and AI-driven content creation, the flexible labs inside the Daley Building are being updated to keep pace. The legacy of Maggie Daley’s commitment to the arts lives on in the creative output of the students who produce films, podcasts, and digital campaigns within these walls.

Conclusion

The Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building is more than just an address on a campus map. It is a living piece of Chicago history that has successfully transitioned from a temple of 20th-century consumerism to a sanctuary of 21st-century knowledge. Its white terra cotta exterior continues to gleam on the corner of State and Jackson, a reminder of the craftsmanship of Marshall and Fox, while its interior pulses with the energy of students preparing for careers that didn't even exist when the building was first named.

Whether you are a student navigating the quirks of the State Street elevators, an administrator working on the 13th floor, or an architecture buff admiring the glazed facade, the building offers a unique window into the soul of Chicago—a city that works, builds, and constantly reimagines itself. The Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Building stands as a proud participant in that ongoing story, ensuring that the legacy of its namesakes and its architectural pioneers continues to inspire the next generation.