The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building and largest LEED-certified building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; silver status, thanks in part to a hefty thermal storage facility). Spanning two city blocks, the 1931 behemoth has its own zip code and gives most of its copious space to wholesale showrooms for home furnishing and design professionals. The first two floors are mall-like and open to the public.
To go beyond these you must be escorted by an interior designer, architect or other industry professional. The Mart also hosts occasional design shows that are open to the public; check the ‘events’ section of the website for details.
Outdoors on the Mart’s river side, a collection of heads on poles rises up like giant Pez dispensers. This is the Merchant’s Hall of Fame; the creepy busts depict famous local retailers such as Marshall Field and Frank Woolworth.
