Walk into the lobby of 125 South Clark Street and you aren't just stepping into another glass-and-steel box in the Loop. You're stepping into the The National. That’s what they call it now. It’s a building that has somehow survived a century of Chicago’s brutal real estate cycles by being a bit of a chameleon. Honestly, if these walls could talk, they’d probably start by bragging about Daniel Burnham. He’s the legendary architect who designed the place back in 1907. Back then, it was the Commercial National Bank Building. Today? It’s a tech hub, a foodie destination, and a masterclass in how to renovate a landmark without stripping away its soul.
Chicago is full of "old" buildings. But 125 South Clark Street is different because it managed to pivot before "pivoting" was a boardroom buzzword.
The Burnham Legacy and the 20-Story Gamble
Daniel Burnham didn't do "small." He’s the guy who told Chicagoans to "make no little plans." When he designed 125 South Clark Street, he went for a Neo-Classical powerhouse. You see it in the way the terra cotta hits the light and those massive columns at the base. It was originally built for the Commercial National Bank, which eventually merged with Continental National Bank. For decades, this was where the city’s serious money lived.
It’s twenty stories tall. That sounds tiny compared to the Willis Tower (which looms just a few blocks away), but in 1907, this was a giant.
The structure is basically a hollow square. This was a genius move for the time. Why? Because electricity was expensive and light bulbs were dim. By building around a central light well, Burnham ensured that every single office had a window. Natural light wasn't a luxury; it was a productivity tool. You can still see that layout today, though the light well has been repurposed in some pretty spectacular ways.
Blueprints from the early 20th century show a building designed for massive clerical pools and marble-clad banking halls. It stayed that way for a long time. In the 1950s, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) moved in. They stayed for over half a century. For an entire generation of Chicagoans, 125 South Clark Street wasn't "The National"—it was simply the ComEd building. It was a utility hub. Functional. A bit gray. Stuffy, even.
When ComEd left for a new headquarters in the mid-2000s, the building faced an identity crisis. It was too old to be "Grade A" modern office space and too historic to tear down. It sat, waiting for someone with enough guts to spend roughly $100 million on a facelift.
How Blue Star Properties Flipped the Script
In 2014, Blue Star Properties took the lead on a massive renovation. They saw what others didn't: the "bones" were perfect for the burgeoning tech scene. This wasn't about putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. It was a total gut job. They rebranded it as The National.
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They leaned into the industrial-chic aesthetic that tech companies crave. We’re talking exposed brick, original wood floors that had been hidden under carpet for decades, and high ceilings. They understood that the modern worker doesn't want to sit in a cubicle under flickering fluorescent lights. They want a space that feels like a loft but functions like a 21st-century data center.
The renovation was aggressive. They added a 20th-floor lounge. They built a fitness center that actually looks like a gym people want to use. But the real "hero" of the renovation is on the ground floor.
Revival Food Hall: The Secret Sauce
If you visit 125 South Clark Street at noon on a Tuesday, you’ll see a stampede. They’re all headed for Revival Food Hall.
This isn't a mall food court. There’s no Sbarro here. Instead, it’s 24,000 square feet of curated Chicago culinary talent. When it opened, it changed the game for the Loop. Before Revival, if you worked downtown, your lunch options were mostly limited to overpriced salads or soggy sandwiches.
- Smoque BBQ: Bringing world-class brisket from the Northwest side to the heart of the city.
- Antique Taco: Gourmet tacos that usually require a trip to Wicker Park.
- Lula Cafe: A Logan Square staple that brought its "farm-to-table" ethos to the corporate crowd.
By putting the food hall in the lobby, the developers turned 125 South Clark Street into a "neighborhood" building. It created foot traffic. It made the building a destination for people who didn't even work there. That’s how you stay relevant in a city with millions of square feet of vacant office space. You give people a reason to show up that has nothing to do with their paycheck.
The Tech Transformation and Modern Tenants
Who actually works here now? It’s a mix that would have baffled the 1907 bankers. You’ve got companies like Nuveen, the massive investment manager, which took a huge chunk of space. But you also have tech firms and creative agencies.
The building is WiredScore Gold certified. In plain English, that means the internet doesn't go down and the speeds are astronomical. This is crucial. You can have all the exposed brick in the world, but if the Wi-Fi is spotty, a tech company will flee in a heartbeat.
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The floor plates are roughly 27,000 square feet. That’s a "sweet spot" for mid-sized companies. It’s large enough to feel expansive but small enough that a company can take over an entire floor and establish their own culture.
- High-Efficiency Infrastructure: They replaced the archaic HVAC systems with modern, energy-efficient units.
- Outdoor Access: The rooftop deck offers views of the surrounding canyon of skyscrapers, providing a literal breather for employees.
- Adaptive Reuse: They kept the historic facade but replaced the windows with high-performance glass to keep the Chicago winter out.
What Most People Miss About the Location
People talk about "The Loop" like it's one giant monolith. It’s not. 125 South Clark Street sits in a very specific pocket. It’s the "Central Loop." You’re equal distance from the luxury of Michigan Avenue and the grit of the West Loop.
You’ve got the Quincy "L" station right there. The Blue Line is a short walk. If you’re a commuter coming in from the suburbs via Ogilvie or Union Station, it’s a manageable 10-minute walk. Location is the one thing you can't renovate, and 125 South Clark has one of the best.
But there’s a nuance here. Being on Clark Street means you’re surrounded by government buildings—the Dirksen Federal Building is just a stone's throw away. This creates a weird, interesting energy. You have lawyers in three-piece suits rubbing elbows with software engineers in hoodies at the coffee bar. It’s a microcosm of Chicago’s economy.
Realities of Post-Pandemic Office Space
Let's be real for a second. The office market in 2026 is tough. Every building in Chicago is struggling with the "work from home" shift. 125 South Clark Street isn't immune to that. However, it’s faring better than the 1980s-era glass towers.
Why? Because it offers an experience.
If you’re a CEO trying to convince your employees to stop working from their couches, you need a "carrot." A building with a curated food hall, a rooftop bar, and a historic soul is a pretty big carrot. The National feels like a place where things happen. It doesn't feel like a fluorescent-lit prison.
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The vacancy rates in the Loop have hovered around 20-25% in recent years. But buildings that offer "amenitized" space—like 125 South Clark—usually command higher rents and maintain better occupancy. It’s a flight to quality. Or, more accurately, a flight to character.
How to Experience 125 South Clark Street
You don't need a security badge to appreciate this place. If you're a tourist or a local who usually just passes by, here is how you actually "do" the building:
- Look Up: Before you enter, stand on the corner of Clark and Adams. Look at the terra cotta detail on the upper floors. That’s 1907 craftsmanship that you just don't see in modern construction.
- The Lobby Entry: Enter through the Clark Street doors. The transition from the historic exterior to the bustling, modern food hall is a trip.
- Revival Records: Inside the food hall, there’s often a record shop or pop-up retail. It’s a great spot to find local Chicago labels.
- The Bar: There’s a bar in the middle of the food hall. It’s one of the best "secret" spots for a late-afternoon meeting or a post-work drink.
Actionable Insights for Business Owners and Visitors
If you're looking at 125 South Clark Street from a business perspective, the takeaway is clear: culture is tied to physical space. If you’re scouting office space, don't just look at the price per square foot. Look at the "gravity" of the building. Does it pull people in?
For the casual visitor, don't just go for the food. Go for the architecture. It’s a rare example of a building that has successfully navigated three different eras of American business: the Gilded Age of banking, the mid-century utility boom, and the modern tech era.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Revival Food Hall website before you go; vendors rotate, and you don’t want to miss a limited-time pop-up from a Michelin-star chef.
- If you’re a history buff, look up the original "Commercial National Bank" photos at the Chicago Architecture Center archives to compare the then-and-now.
- For office seekers, contact Blue Star Properties directly for a tour of the upper "National" floors to see the light well in person—it’s the building’s best-kept secret.
The building stands as a reminder that in Chicago, we don't just tear things down when they get old. We find a new way to make them work. 125 South Clark Street isn't just an address; it’s a 20-story proof of concept for the city’s resilience.