On January 16, 1967, with the National Housewares Manufacturers' Association exhibit about to open, the great building was destroyed by fire. The resulting Mayor's Committee to Investigate McCormick Place Fire recommended a number of revisions to the Chicago Municipal Code.
Work on the new McCormick Place was begun in May, 1968, using the lower level of the old building. The new McCormick Place was opened January 3, 1971. Twice as big as the original McCormick Place, the new structure has a massive roof spanning 18 1/2 acres with a main hall 50 feet high. The new $95 million center is equipped with a $3 million fire detection and prevention system which includes 40,000 sprinkler heads.
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