Pui Tak Center at Open House Chicago

Chinatown's most iconic building is the former home of the On Leong Merchant Association, the group that spearheaded the Chinese community's move from Van Buren and Clark streets to its present location in 1912. The firm of Michaelsen and Rognstad was chosen to design the 1928 building that both referenced classical Chinese elements and adjusted to the association's modern needs. Colorful terra cotta decorates the building with Chinese motifs. Typical of traditional Chinese architecture, the building features tile roofs and wide overhanging eaves. Red, symbolic of joy, and jade green, symbolic of affluence, are the buildings' dominant colors. The building was landmarked in 1993 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2025. Originally, the building was used as a community center and court room to settle disputes arising among neighborhood merchants and residents. The Chinese Christian Union Church purchased the building in 1993 and started the Pui Tak Center the following year to provide services to those in need in the community. Pui Tak Center serves over 3,000 people each year through its adult and youth education and community programs. Visitors will head to the third floor to view displays, access the balcony for a unique view of Chinatown, touch original terra cotta, and hear short talks about the building, terra cotta, Chinatown's history, and Pui Tak Center services.