The Fine Arts Building, also known as the Studebaker Building, is a beautiful and historic space built in 1885. It is a gorgeous building with breathtakingly beautiful studios and lovely architecture. The building houses a vibrant community of artists and businesses. Visitors can see traditional Indian dance, hear opera and music, explore a puppet theater, and visit multimedia artists during open houses. It is also home to a long-standing music store serving musicians and a bookstore. The building features an intimate theater used for recordings and performances. A notable and cool feature is the authentic, old elevators operated by attendants. The security guards are friendly, and the space offers gorgeous views. It is an unforgettable and must-see Chicago landmark.
2nd Friday. Good time to see artists in their natural habitat.
March 2026
What a lot of Chicago History here! Absolutely check out the murals on the 10th floor. And second Fridays when many of the artists in the building open their Studios to the public.
February 2026
Great building. Love the fact that they have maintained the elevators as operator driven. Walking the halls of this building are a step back in time! Thank you for preserving so much. I was able to teach my son about some of these historic items that he had never seen.
