Federally Owned Historic Buildings in Illinois: 2025 Watch Site

Location:

Various, including Chicago, Carbondale and East St. Louis in Cook, Jackson & St. Clair Counties

Year built:

Various

Architect, builder and/or Original owner:

Various

Current owner:

U.S. General Services Administration

(U.S. Post Office and the Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago. Photo credit: Paul Morgan)

Historic Significance

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) owns more than 480 historic buildings across the United States, with a substantial number of them being significant modernist buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1970s. In Illinois, these include the U.S. Post Office and the Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago, both designed by Mies van der Rohe and built between 1974 and 1975, the East St. Louis Federal Building, built in 1966, as well as the Senator Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale, which was built in 1978. As federal facilities, these places play key roles in the civic and economic life of the communities where they are located—acting as service centers, sites of congregation and protest and symbols of stability.

(Senator Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale. Photo credit: Paul Morgan)

Current threat

On March 4, 2025, the GSA announced that it would sell a large number of “non-core” federal real estate assets across the country. The list posted to GSA’s website included 14 properties in Illinois. Many of the included GSA-owned Illinois buildings are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but none of them have local landmark designation that could protect them against demolition or inappropriate redevelopment if sold to private owners.

GSA released a new, shorter list on March 21 that includes only one Illinois building that was not on the March 4 list, the William O. Lipinski Building at 844 N. Rush St. in Chicago. Still, GSA’s website says the list of properties for disposal “will continue to be updated as we execute on our strategy to rightsize the federal portfolio.”

(U.S. Post Office and the Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago. Photo credits: Paul Morgan)

Preservation Solution 

The Washington Post reported on March 11, 2025, that nearly half of the GSA’s fine arts and historic preservation staff have been dismissed as part of ongoing federal reductions in force. This action not only disrespects the service of these dedicated staff members, but it may also jeopardize GSA’s ability to meet review requirements for the disposition of federal property under the National Historic Preservation Act. If these buildings are sold out of federal ownership, review processes must be in place, as they are often the only opportunity for the public to provide feedback on potential sales. Additionally, local governments that have the power to designate these properties as local landmarks should do so proactively before they are sold to new ownership.

(Senator Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale. Photo credits: Paul Morgan)

Take Action

If you reside in Chicago, Carbondale or East St. Louis, contact your local officials to ask them to proactively landmark historic federal buildings in your community.

(U.S. Post Office in Chicago. Photo credit: Paul Morgan)