single 19th century all original and elegantly designed diminutive exterior ywca hotel building red slip glaze terra cotta capital scroll fragment fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills. the intricately designed ionic capital fragment was salvaged from the building during its demolition in 2009. the facade consisted of multi-colored terra cotta combined with red face brick, which was badly disfigured when painted over with a blue and white paint color scheme. after painstakingly stripping and/or removing the white paint, the original red slip glaze finish was found to be amazingly intact and rich in color. only one available. the seven-story red brick and terra cotta ywca hotel (located at 830 south michigan avenue) was designed by chicago architect john m. van osdel ii, nephew of prominent chicago architect john mills van osdel ii. construction of the property was completed in 1895. the late 19th century hotel is one of the oldest ywca buildings in the country, and was the first to be built in the city of chicago. the ywca originally used to house working women newly arriving in the city following the 1893 world's fair. located near the illinois central railroad station and within a reasonable distance to the heart of the loop, it was was designed to take advantage of views along michigan avenue and the lake, with projecting triangular bay windows on the top floors and a renaissance inspired loggia dressed in ornamental terra cotta on the second floor. in 1929, the building became the south michigan hotel. in the 1970's the hotel was purchased by johnson publications and converted into offices. the badly dilapidated and structurally compromised building was essentially abandoned for nearly thirty years. the building finally succumbed to the wrecking ball in 2009. urban remains salvaged much of the exterior and interior ornament prior to, and during demolition.