McCormick Place (Chicago, Illinois)

 convention center, exhibition center

2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-791-7000
312-791-6543 fax
www.mccormickplace.com/

Home to Chicago's annual Auto Show as well as a multitude of other large conventions and events.

McCormick Place is an enormous exposition complex located in Chicago, Illinois. Made up of four interconnected buildings, it is the largest convention center in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

The original building was erected in 1960 and was named for the late newspaper magnate Robert R. McCormick, who had championed the project although he did not live to see its realization. The gleaming white building burned down in 1967, a shocking event as it was largely steel and concrete and was thought to be fireproof. However, the exhibits at the time were highly flammable and there were inadequate sprinklers and hydrants, thus the fire spread quickly and destructively, taking the life of a security guard in the process. The site was rebuilt in 1971. This building is now the East Building (Lakeside Center) The North Building was added in 1986. A third building which became the South Building was was opened in 1997 and finally the West Building was added in 2007.

Permanent Home of the RSNA Annual Exhibition