the palmolive building, formerly the playboy building, is a 37 story art deco building at 919 n. michigan avenue in chicago. built by holabird & root, it was completed in 1929 and was home to the colgate-palmolive-peet corporation. a light beacon was added in 1930 and operated until 1981. previously called the palmolive building, it came to be known as the playboy building when it was home to playboy magazine from 1965 to 1989. during this time the word p-l-a-y-b-o-y was spelled out in 9 feet letters. it was designated a chicago landmark in 2000, as was added to the national register of historic places in 2003. it is one of the country's premier art deco-style "set-back" skyscrapers, the design of which were influenced by municipal zoning laws and the dramatic renderings of new york architect hugh ferris.