Pui Tak Center is located in the former On Leong Merchants Association Building. This 36,000 square foot building is Chinatown’s only Chicago Landmark building.

 

Constructed from 1926 to 1928, the building was originally built for the On Leong Merchants Association. The building was originally used for the association’s activities including small business development, after school Chinese language school, community and cultural celebrations and an informal court that resolved disputes among community members. The building was referred to as Chinatown’s “city hall.”

 

The building was designed by two Norwegian-American architects, Christian S. Michaelsen and Siguard A. Rognstad. When plans for the building were announced in the Chicago Tribune of July 4, 1926, it was called, “One of the most expensive and elaborate buildings ever erected in America by the Chinese.” The Chicago Landmark Commission’s report is available here.

 

In 2007, the Pui Tak building was selected as one of 25 Chicagoland historic sites to be a part of the Partners in Preservation program sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and funded by American Express. As the building which received the most votes by the public, Pui Tak Center received a grant that covered some of the cost to preserve the building’s terra cotta.

 

In 2022 and 2023, additional preservation work was completed including additional terra cotta preservation, tuck-pointing and restoring the front canopy. Wiss, Janey and Elstner provided architectural services, Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration provided general contracting services and Allen Architectural Metals restored the canopy.

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In 2021, Pui Tak Center received a "Telling the Full Story" grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The Chinese American Museum of Chicago interviewed over 20 community members who shared their memories of their building. Ramsey Historic Consultants conducted additional research and prepared the nomination.  

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After the initial application was written to gain a locally significant designation, the consultants decided to expand their research so that the building might be considered for nationally significance. They compared our building with those in other Chinatowns including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Honolulu. The On Leong/Pui Tak building is one of the best example of how Chinese eclectic architecture was used to signify Chinatown's place.

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The application received support from the Chicago Landmark Commission in May 2025 and the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office gave its recommendation in June 2025. The nomination was covered by the Chicago Sun-Times, NBC5 and ABC7. Letters of support were written by elected officials (US Senator Durbin, US Senator Duckworth, State Comptroller Mendoza, State Senator Villanueva, State Representative Mah and Alderwoman Lee), preservation organizations (National Trust for Historic Preservation, Asian and Pacific Islanders Americans in Historic Preservation, Landmarks Illinois, and Preservation Chicago), preservation architects and general contractors, Chinatown organizations and individuals.

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The On Leong building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 2025. The importance of National Register listing includes greater awareness of the histories of Chinese Americans and Asian Americans, highlights how Pui Tak Center and Chinese Christian Union Church are using the building to serve and outreach to the community, and qualifies the building for federal preservation funding.