Originally built as a lumber yard in 1886, the site in which Germain House sits has a long history in Chicago. After the lumber yard closed, what remained was an L-shaped industrial structure. Historical records show that this is when the building was occupied by the “Central Leather & Embossing Company”, a manufacturer of leather goods. The company name later changed to the Germain Company. From that original structure, the building was renovated to new lofted apartments with exposed brick, curated finishes, and a variety of unique floor plans.