Originally built by Marshall Field & Company to replace and expand H.H. Richardson's Marshall Field Wholesale Store, the Merchandise Mart totals 3,460,000 sf and was the largest building in the world in floor area until the Pentagon was built in Washington DC. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. purchased the building in 1945 for $12 million. There are 2,000 additional owner-controlled parking spaces in adjacent buildings on top of the 250 covered spaces in the building itself. First and second floors contain numerous amenities, including 22 quick service restaurants, 420-seat food hall, Marshall’s Landing 12,000 sf lounge/restaurant connected to 50’ wide Grand Stair leading to the building lobby, on-site CTA stop servicing the Purple and Brown lines, and U.S. Post Office. In addition, theMART contains a full-service 20,000 sf fitness center, new conference center with capacity for 225 people, and 10,000 sf River Deck for outdoor green space along the riverfront. ArtontheMART is the largest permanent digital art installation in the world, illuminating 2.5 acres of the building façade, with projections after dusk - visit www.artonthemart.com In 2018, this building was awarded the Fitwel Certification, which is the leading global health certification that optimizes buildings to support occupant health. theMART has LEED Gold certification.