Walk into One South Dearborn and you’ll feel it immediately. The air is different. It’s that heavy, silent hum of a world-class law firm. People searching for sidley austin llp chicago photos usually want a glimpse into that "inner sanctum"—the place where multi-billion dollar mergers are signed and high-stakes litigation is mapped out.
It’s not just a workspace; it’s a 40-story statement of intent. Honestly, most of the stock photos you find online don't do the scale of this place justice. They show a glass tower, sure. But they miss the texture of the Italian granite in the 16,000-square-foot plaza or the way the "dual-crown" lantern at the top of the building glows against the Chicago skyline at 2:00 AM.
If you're looking for what the office actually looks like in 2026, you've gotta look past the polished PR shots.
The Architecture of Power at One South Dearborn
Sidley Austin has been the anchor tenant here since the building opened in November 2005. It was literally built for them. Developed by Hines and designed by the architects at DeStefano Keating Partners, the building serves as a modern bridge between the historic Loop and the future of corporate Law.
One of the coolest things about the design? It’s an homage to the Inland Steel building right next door. You'll notice the signature green glass and the way the plaza connects the two structures. But while Inland Steel is a mid-century icon, Sidley’s home is a "tube-in-tube" steel and concrete beast.
- The Lobby: A three-story explosion of glass and marble. It’s massive.
- The Views: Because it's 571 feet tall, the high-rise offices look straight over the Lake and the surrounding skyscrapers.
- The "Crown": That 60-foot lantern on top isn't just for show. It houses a massive conference center for Sidley partners.
The firm occupies about 500,000 square feet. That's a lot of real estate. When you see sidley austin llp chicago photos of the interior, you’re usually seeing the 7th-floor amenities or the high-rise conference rooms. The 7th floor is where the "vibe" shifts. In 2017, they brought in Eastlake Studio to renovate the amenity spaces. They wanted to ditch the stiff, conservative feel for something more like a "relaxed lounge."
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Basically, they wanted a place where a tired associate could grab a coffee or hit a yoga mat without feeling like they were in a courtroom.
What the "Secret" Photos Reveal About Daily Life
You won't find many photos of individual partner offices. Privacy is a big deal in Big Law. However, the public-facing areas tell a story of "understated elegance."
Think Herman Miller furniture. Think FilzFelt acoustic baffles that keep the conversations hushed. There are "hydration and tea points" (fancy talk for kitchenettes) and phone booths for private calls. If you find a photo of a Sidley hallway, you’ll notice it’s remarkably clean. No clutter. No stacks of paper. It’s all very "digital-first" now.
A common misconception is that it’s all dark wood and leather chairs. Not anymore. The 2024/2025 updates brought in more "Garden on the Wall" features—actual greenery inside the office—and linear lighting that feels more like a tech startup than a 160-year-old law firm.
The 7th Floor Refresh
This is the heart of the building's community. It has:
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- A full-service fitness center.
- A tenant lounge with a "clubby" feel.
- Wellness areas for massage and yoga.
- A private café.
It’s funny, you’ll see photos of lawyers posing in the stairwells for recruitment brochures. They look happy and well-rested. Is it always like that? Probably not. But the physical space is designed to mitigate the stress of a 2,000-hour billable requirement.
Why These Photos Matter for Recruiting
If you’re a law student at a T14 school, you’re looking at these photos to see if you can live there for 12 hours a day. Because let’s be real, you will be. Sidley is known for its "Midwestern nice" culture, and the office reflects that. It’s professional but not cold.
The firm recently elected its largest partnership class in history—65 people—and a good chunk of them are based right here in Chicago. When you see a photo of the "signature corner offices," you’re looking at the goal. Those offices have column-free spans of 12 meters. That means unobstructed views of the city.
"The design began with an homage to Inland Steel... creating a plaza that would engage both buildings." — Keating Architecture
Spotting the Real Sidley Style
If you are browsing Getty Images or Alamy for sidley austin llp chicago photos, keep an eye out for the archival stuff. There are some great shots from 1979 of Edwin Austin in his office. Comparing those to the modern One South Dearborn shots is a trip. We went from heavy mahogany and cigarette smoke to glass walls and "low-e" energy-efficient coatings.
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Today’s office is LEED Silver certified. It’s "eco-contemporary." It’s a workplace that tries to be sustainable while still being intimidatingly successful.
Actionable Insights for Your Search
If you really want to see what the office looks like without an invite:
- Check Architect Portfolios: Look at Keating Architecture or Eastlake Studio’s websites. They have the high-res, wide-angle shots that actually show the floor plans.
- Office Snapshots: This site often features the specific furniture and lighting used in the 2024/2025 renovations.
- Visit the Plaza: You can’t go past the security desk without a badge, but the 16,000-square-foot Italian granite plaza is public. It’s one of the best spots in the Loop to sit and feel the "Big Law" energy.
- LinkedIn Life: Search for Sidley Chicago employees. Their "work anniversary" or "new partner" photos often show the unedited, "real" version of the office—messy desks and all.
The Chicago office remains the firm's spiritual and historical home. While they have massive footprints in London (the "Can of Ham" building) and New York, the One South Dearborn tower is the definitive Sidley silhouette. It’s a 40-story machine designed to keep the world of business turning.
To get the most accurate view of the space, focus on the 2024 interior design updates rather than the original 2005 construction photos. The aesthetic has shifted significantly toward "wellness" and "collaboration" over the last two years, reflecting a broader trend in the legal industry to move away from the "ivory tower" feel toward a more integrated, tech-forward environment. Look for images featuring "biophilic design" or "acoustic ceiling baffles" to see the most recent version of the Chicago headquarters.