| Holden Block | |
|---|---|
 The Holden Block in 2014 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | 1027 W. Madison Street Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°52′53.1″N 87°39′11.9″W / 41.881417°N 87.653306°W |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Renovated | 1894, 2010–2012 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Stephen Vaughan Shipman |
The Holden Block is a commercial building in the Near West Side of Chicago. Located at 1027 West Madison Street, it was constructed in 1872 in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire by Charles C. P. Holden. It is one of the few remaining examples of commercial blocks in Chicago and the best preserved in the Near West Side.
The commercial block was a building form very popular in Chicago in the 1870s until it was replaced by the skyscraper in the 1890s. During the 20th century, most blocks were demolished and replaced with new development. The Holden Block, despite being located in a declining neighborhood and falling vacant in the mid-20th century, survived these developments and was designated a Chicago landmark in 2011. It was purchased by the advertising agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) in 2010 and restored as its headquarters in 2012.
The building is located in an area that was commercial before it declined in the 20th century, being deemed "skid row" after World War II; gentrification began in the 1980s. The neighborhood has bus and rapid transit service.