:151 North Franklin

The vision for the building first became public in 2013 when renderings were availed for a 30-story building from developer John Buck designed by John Ronan,{{cite web|url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2013/8/7/10210946/could-another-office-tower-be|title=30-Story Office Tower Could be Coming to Randolph & Franklin|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=August 7, 2013|work=Curbed|author=Dickert, Kevin}}{{cite web|url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2013/11/5/10179276/john-ronans-151-north-franklin-gets-its-closeup|title=John Ronan's 151 North Franklin Gets Its Close-Up|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=November 5, 2013|work=Curbed|author=Spula, Ian}} with AAI Associates, Inc. as architect of record. In November 2013, Buck announced $145 million of equity financing for a 36-story building with {{convert|825000|sqft|sqm|0}} of office space.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131120/CRED03/131119731/john-buck-gets-boost-in-race-to-build-next-downtown-chicago-tower|title=Beitler bows out, Buck steps up in office tower race|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=November 20, 2013|work=Crain's Chicago Business|author=Ori, Ryan}}

In February 2015, law firm Freeborn & Peters (Chicago's 22nd largest) signed a 15-year 5-floor letter of intent.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150205/CRED03/150209863/john-buck-lands-freeborn-peters-for-new-loop-office-tower|title=Buck takes big step toward Loop tower groundbreaking|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=February 5, 2015|work=Crain's Chicago Business|author=Ori, Ryan}} That May, law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson (Chicago's 14th largest) signed a lease in the building.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150513/CRED03/150519930/hinshaw-culbertson-plans-move-to-new-loop-tower-by-john-buck|title=Law firm Hinshaw plans move to new Loop tower|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=May 13, 2015|work=Crain's Chicago Business|author=Ori, Ryan}} In August 2015, Freeborn & Peters accepted an offer to remain at 311 South Wacker Drive, but Buck went ahead with filing for demolition permits for the Walgreens at that location.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150827/CRED03/150829863/freeborn-peters-backs-out-of-john-buck-chicago-office-project|title=Law firm backs out of Buck office development|access-date=December 20, 2018|date=August 27, 2015|work=Crain's Chicago Business|author=Ori, Ryan}} In December 2015, CNA Insurance decided to relocate its headquarters from the 44-story CNA Center at 333 South Wabash that it had owned since its debut in 1972 to the new CNA Center building. The plan included selling the old building to Buck for $108 million, temporarily leasing space in that building until moving into the newly leased space with signage and naming rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151216/CRED03/151219886/cna-selling-big-red-moving-hq-to-new-office-tower|title=CNA selling 'Big Red,' moving HQ to new office tower|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=December 16, 2015|work=Crain's Chicago Business|author=Ori, Ryan}} By that time the Walgreens on the site had been demolished and construction was expected to commence soon. Northern Trust would sign to consolidate many of its offices into the old CNA Center, which was to be renamed by Northern Trust.{{cite news| title=CNA building gets new tenant — and maybe a new name — as Northern Trust signs deal| last=Ori| first=Robert| date=August 9, 2017| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-northern-trust-cna-ryan-ori-0810-biz-20170809-column.html| newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}

In June 2018, 151 North Franklin became the new corporate headquarters for CNA Insurance, which has been headquartered in the Chicago Loop since 1900.{{cite web|url=https://www.enr.com/articles/45876-interior-designtenant-improvement-cna-corporate-headquarters-relocation|title=Interior Design/Tenant Improvement: CNA Corporate Headquarters Relocation|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=November 20, 2018|work=Engineering News-Record}} Prior Loop headquarters included following locations: Metropolitan Tower (Continental Center I from 1943–1962 at 310 South Michigan Avenue), 55 East Jackson Boulevard (Continental Center II from 1962–1972) and CNA Center (Continental Center III from 1972–2018 at 333 South Wabash Avenue).{{cite web|url=https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/Continental_Center.pdf|title=Landmark Designation Report|access-date=January 22, 2019|date=July 7, 2011|publisher=Commission on Chicago Landmarks}} Facebook signed a large lease in the building in July 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ori/ct-biz-facebook-office-lease-ryan-ori-20180723-story.html|title=Column: Facebook confirms huge office lease in the Loop|access-date=December 19, 2018|date=July 23, 2018|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Ori, Ryan}}

The building has a column-free open-office design with many modern elements that pays homage to the 70-degree angle of the CNA logo. Chicago Tribune critic Blair Kamin praised the open air base but felt much of the rest of the glassy exterior was evidence of budgetary limitations.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kamin/ct-biz-151-north-franklin-kamin-0615-story.html|title=Column: At 151 North Franklin, less is a bore, but the high-rise's bottom is tops|access-date=December 21, 2018|date=June 14, 2018|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Kamin, Blair}}

• List of tallest buildings in Chicago

{{Reflist}}

• {{ctbuh}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1215592 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809174404/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1215592 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |title=Emporis building ID 1215592 |work=Emporis}}

{{Chicago skyscrapers}}

Category:2018 establishments in Illinois

Category:Office buildings completed in 2018

Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Chicago