Vassar Swiss Underwear Company Building
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Vassar Swiss Underwear Company Building | |
 Facade from northwest, showing 1913 main building (left) and 1923 western addition (right) | |
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| Location | 2545 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°55′56″N 87°41′35″W / 41.93222°N 87.69306°W |
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Lawrence G. Hallberg, Sr.; Lawrence G. Hallberg, Jr. |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000859[1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 2008 |
The Vassar Swiss Underwear Company Building is an industrial loft building located at 2545 West Diversey Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It is also known as the Cooper Lamp Building and as of 2010 is slated to house the Green Exchange, a combination business incubator and office space.[2] The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008,[1] and as of 2010 is being redeveloped into the Green Exchange, a site for small businesses dedicated to natural products and the environment.[2]
Near the end of the 19th century, the form-fitting union suit was growing in popularity.[3] Sensing an opportunity, Chicago native George E. Rutledge experimented with the design of the union suit, adding reinforcement for increased wear resistance and altering the weave and construction. His changes resulted in an improved suit that was less bulky, more comfortable, and cheaper to produce.[3] Rutledge obtained a patent for his improved suit in 1900 and designed production equipment to produce it. That same year, he partnered with Emil A. Basener and Frederick S. McCoy to form the Vassar Swiss Underwear Company.[3] Starting with $10,000 the trio set up a manufacturing operation in Chicago to produce Rutledge's union suits as well as other high-quality men's undergarments.[3]
In 1903, with labor troubles looming, Vassar Swiss moved their production 80 miles (130 km) west to Rochelle, Illinois. The company grew in size, and in 1912, Northwestern Knitting Company (later Munsingwear) purchased the firm.[3] Shortly after the sale, Northwestern decided to ramp up production and move Vassar Swiss back to Chicago. The company contracted real estate developer Stewart Hodges, a specialist in factory construction, to build a new plant, which Vassar Swiss would lease. Hodges chose a site on Diversy, near the rail lines and adjacent to the Maplewood station.[3] Hodges also contracted his father-in-law, Lawrence G. Hallberg, to design the new factory. A building permit was issued in September 1913, and construction was completed in April of the following year.[3]
Vassar Swiss prospered in its new location. Rutledge, now a vice-president at parent company Northwestern, joined with other company designers to improve his original union suit design.[3] In 1923, the company constructed an addition on the western portion of their building, again designed by Hallberg, to house their box factory and shipping.
Over the next four decades, the company shifted focus and products. Union suits became less popular, and briefs soon became the company's leading product. Vassar Swiss purchased the building from Stewart, after having leased it since construction.[3] Rutledge retired in 1937. The company shortened its name to "Vassar Company" and, in 1951, "Vassarette."[4] In 1967, production operations were moved from Chicago to Paris, Texas,[3] and as of 2010 the Vasarette name is owned by Vanity Fair Brands, and produces women's underwear.[4]
