Located on Chicago’s near West Side, this historic cold storage warehouse has been completely renovated for loft style dwellings with interior parking, ground level retail and a new twelfth floor addition setback to preserve the original cornice line. The unique concrete structure employed a double slab wall and floor system sandwiching an 8” layer of cork insulation. Challenged by large windowless walls on three sides, the team worked closely with local, State and National authorities to determine appropriate modifications that respected the preservation regulations and the local building codes. Significant historic components include the Art Deco terracotta and concrete facades, the original terracotta lobby and decorative metal elevator car, and reconstruction of a missing water tower in fiberglass to conceal cell phone antennas previously mounted to the facades. Extensive structural repairs were also required to address deterioration brought on by the leaking brine building refrigeration system. Landlocked between two major elevated railways, the project required careful planning for emergency vehicle access through the building utilizing the internal loading berths.
