AMA Plaza
| Formerly | IBM Plaza, IBM Building |
|---|---|
| Company type | Commercial office building |
| Industry | Real estate, office space |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Downtown Chicago |
| Products | Office and hotel space |
| Owner | Blackstone Group (since 1996) |
AMA Plaza—previously known as IBM Plaza or the IBM Building—is a 52-story high-rise located at 330 North Wabash Avenue in the heart of downtown Chicago, Illinois. The structure was conceived by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who passed away in 1969 before construction commenced. Inside the lobby, visitors can find a bust of Mies sculpted by Marino Marini. Standing at , it ranks as the second tallest building designed by Mies, following the Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower, and represents his final architectural endeavor in the United States.
Initially developed for and named after IBM, the corporation transferred ownership to the Blackstone Group in 1996 and had largely vacated its premises by early 2006, moving operations to the Hyatt Center near Union Station. Presently, key occupants include the American Medical Association, Langham Chicago (operated by Langham Hotels International), WeWork, and law firm Latham & Watkins.
The design incorporated specifications tailored to IBM’s operational demands, such as advanced electrical infrastructure, environmental control systems, reinforced floor load capacities, and elevated ceiling heights to accommodate extensive raised-floor computing facilities. Fire safety measures were integral, with asbestos utilized for its fire-retardant properties—a factor that continues to necessitate remediation efforts. The elevator network is notably extensive, featuring intelligent passenger elevators alongside dedicated freight elevators, reflecting IBM’s functional requirements. Remarkably, the building sustained no damage during the 1992 Chicago Flood.
In 2007, proposals were made to transform levels two through thirteen into an upscale hotel. This vision materialized with the opening of the Langham Chicago in 2013, which earned recognition as the top hotel in the United States by US News in 2017. The building achieved designation as a Chicago Landmark on February 6, 2008, and was subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 26, 2010—making it the youngest structure in Chicago to appear on both registers.
On December 9, 2011, the American Medical Association declared its intention to move its headquarters and entire staff to 330 N. Wabash from its former State Street offices. This relocation was finalized in September 2013 and resulted in the building adopting its current name, AMA Plaza.
Tenants
- American Medical Association
- BDO USA, LLP
- Corgan
- Latham & Watkins
- PwC
- Solomon Cordwell Buenz
- SmithBucklin
- Swanson Martin & Bell
- Thornton Tomasetti
- WeWork
See also
- List of buildings
- List of skyscrapers
- List of tallest buildings in Chicago
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- World's tallest structures
External links
- Chicago Landmarks
- Office buildings completed in 1973
- IBM facilities
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe buildings
- Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago
- Skyscraper office buildings in Chicago
- 1973 establishments in Illinois
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design basic silver certified buildings
- Skyscraper hotels in Chicago