The 860|880 buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1980 well in advance of the date the buildings normally have been first eligible (2001). Following is an excerpt from the Nomination Form:
“860-880 Lake Shore Drive was the first of the glass and steel wall curtain building, the prototype for so many of the commercial and residential structures that make up a significant portion of the urban environment today. These buildings are properties of both local and national significance: they are less than fifty years old and have achieved their exceptional significance within that time, thus qualifying them for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.”