The Chicago School Style is also known as the Commercial Style and the American Renaissance Style.

In the last quarter of the 19th century, architects and engineers in Chicago developed the steel-frame skyscraper that would become the emblematic building of the 20th century.

A commercial Chicago School building was taller than its masonry neighbors, usually more than six stories and as tall as twenty stories. Chicago School buildings were rectangular with a flat, corniced roof. They had large areas of glass, terra cotta or other ornamental finish because the exterior wall were not load bearing. Louis Sullivan was the most influential architect of the Chicago School.

Distinctive features are:

large arched windows
decorative terra cotta panels
decorative bands
vertical strips of windows with pilaster-like mullions
highly decorated frieze