65 East Wacker

65 EAST WACKER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
65 E Wacker Holdings II, LLC

STATISTICS
24 Stories
222,768 GSF

STATUS
In Development

A 24-story downtown office building near Chicago’s popular Riverwalk proposes to convert the building into 252 apartments, while retaining a restaurant and historic lobby space. The art deco building at 65 E. Wacker was completed in 1928 and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

December 6, 2024December 19, 2024

65 E. Wacker residential development approved

65 EAST WACKER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVED

We’re excited to announce that the Chicago Plan Commission has officially approved the residential development of 65 East Wacker Place! Our team here at PH will design the conversion of floors 4 to 24 into residential units and the two lower floors will turn into the new lobby, while still preserving Morton’s The Steakhouse, located on the second floor. We’re all thrilled to see the transformation of this historic building! More news coming soon.

Pomeroy Apartments

POMEROY APARTMENTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Chicago Housing Authority

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Leo Steif

STATISTICS
104 and 1 Management Units
10 Stories
118,500 GSF

The classically detailed, limestone and terracotta clad building was renovated as part of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Plan for Transformation to be their flagship senior living center on Chicago’s North Side. The plan sought to preserve the building’s vintage apartment-hotel character keeping as many dwellings as possible while adding contemporary amenities, technologies and accessibility features. A full exterior restoration including replication of the missing terracotta eyebrow cornice were a part of the repair program. Inside, the ornate plasterwork of the original 1923 lobby was restored and the space re-purposed for a formal Event and Dining Room. Together with the creation of a new Kenmore Avenue entry, a central communal space resulted to bring together administration and activity spaces for casual and formal interaction of the occupants. Special amenities include a central landscaped courtyard and rooftop terrace with garden plots for residents.

LEED® Platinum Certified

AWARDS
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, President’s Award, Landmarks Illinois
Silver Achievement Award, Best 50+ Repositioned Community, National Association of Home Builders
Silver Award, Best Renovation, MultiHousing News (MHN) Excellence Awards, MHN Magazine
Bronze Award, Building Design+Construction (BD+C) Reconstruction Awards, BD+C Magazine
Bronze Award, Restoration/Renovation, Brick in Architecture Awards, Brick Industry Association

801 West Madison

801 WEST MADISON

LOCATION
Chicago, IL

CLIENT
The Neighborhood Hotels

STATISTICS
76 Units
6 Stories
21,596 SF Retail/Commercial
82,082 GSF

STATUS
In Development

The Former Mid-City Trust and Savings Bank building was designed in 1911 as a Romanesque Revival-style six-story commercial and office building. The L-shaped building was redesigned in 1928 to add a new Classical Revival-style exterior and a double-height banking hall on the inside, illuminated by large skylights. Banking facilities at 801 W. Madison remained open until the early 2000s and have stayed vacant since the mid-2000s.

The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2012, with the interior banking hall included as a significant space in the designation. The Neighborhood Hotels purchased the building a decade later for rehabilitation and conversion into an apartment-style hotel. The historic bank will be revived into a mixed-use building with a small portion of the first floor and floors 2-6 comprising 76 hotel suites and the remaining space on the first floor and basement to be leased to retail and restaurant tenants. The building application for listing on the National Register of Historic Places was recently approved.

5231 Hohman

5231 HOHMAN

LOCATION
Hammond, Indiana

CLIENT
NWI Hohman LLC

STATISTICS
100 Units
9 Stories
10,000 SF Retail/Commercial
98,903 GSF

STATUS
Under Construction

RENDERINGS
Courtesy of ResElevate

The adaptive reuse development at 5231 Hohman Ave in Hammond, Indiana, aims to revitalize the historic Bank Calumet building, once the city's tallest structure and a prominent fixture in the commercial district of the city. Since its construction in 1924 and subsequent use by First Midwest Bank in 2006, the building has remained vacant since 2015, impacting the city's vitality. The project seeks to transform the prime location into a vibrant centerpiece, attracting new residents and visitors while invigorating Hammond's economic and cultural landscape. The plan includes converting the 9-story building into 100 contemporary residences with flexible layouts, incorporating retail spaces and co-working areas on the ground floor. The comprehensive renovation involves structural improvements, updated systems, facade restoration, and eco-friendly features, preserving its historical charm while ushering in a modern urban apartment style to rejuvenate the neighborhood.

The Grand Kedzie Lodge

THE GRAND KEDZIE LODGE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Ranquist Development
Jodi Development
Campbell Coyle

STATISTICS
10 Units
3 Stories + Basement
1 Parking Space
9,413 GSF

PHOTOS & RENDERINGS
Courtesy of Ranquist Development

The Grand Kedzie Lodge is a historical mansion located at 2228 N. Kedzie in Logan Square, Chicago. Originally built in 1893 as a single-family home, it has since been adapted into a multifamily residence and is now a part of the Logan Square Boulevards historic district. The mansion features a Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture with rusticated limestone frontage, arched openings, and a cylindrical turret with a conical cap.

The property went through repairs and updates to increase the total number of dwellings to ten units in the main house. While the exterior of the building was preserved, the interiors were updated to meet the needs of modern urban tenants. Floor plans have been thoughtfully designed to take advantage of the interesting volumes and large windows, creating unique interior compositions throughout. The expressive roofline also provides a dramatic interior feature for the upper loft units.

AWARDS
1 Place, Multifamily, Metamorphosis Awards, Retrofit Magazine

The Grand Palmer Lodge

THE GRAND PALMER LODGE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Ranquist Development
New Era Chicago
Campbell Coyle Real Estate

STATISTICS
14 Units
2 Stories
12 Parking Spaces
11,639 GSF

STATUS
Complete

PHOTOGRAPHY
Aleks Eva
Pappageorge Haymes Partners

Palmer Park is an adaptive reuse of a century-old synagogue, and more recently a Boys and Girls Club, into a 14-unit apartment building consisting of 1- to 3-bedroom apartments. The project preserves the old yellow brick and limestone structure designed by architect Edward Steinborn in the 1920s, and works within the existing two-story volume of the building, with new balconies and ground-level patios projecting off the west side of the building. Historic masonry, terrazzo floors, and plaster detail elements have been joined by modern fixtures creating a unique mix of materials, instilling a sense of antique charm while providing modern convenience. The development team worked extensively with the community to redevelop the west lot of the building, where the club had a fenced playground, into a publicly accessible pocket park. This park serves as a physical link to the community while also acting as an amenity space for the tenants, whose balconies and patios overlook the park.

1810 North Wells

1810 NORTH WELLS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Chicago Development Partners

STATISTICS
18 Units
2-4 Stories
18 Parking Spaces
5,100 SF Commercial
39,762 GSF

STATUS
Under Construction

The proposed mixed-use residential project, located in Chicago’s Old Town Triangle neighborhood, combines the adaptive reuse of an existing 2-story building, a 3-story building with a 2-story coach house in the back, and the partial demolition of a 1-story garage building with a new 3-story rooftop addition. The entire development preserves the existing street-wall along North Wells Street with the new addition being deliberately set-back from the street front. Together the four buildings will include 18 dwelling units 18 parking spaces, 5,100 SF of street-level retail, and a shared courtyard.The building's massing is composed of a 4-story base filling the vacant lot, a middle section tower that is setback from the base facade along Washington Blvd. The top floors also set back further providing active roof-top uses and outdoor decks for occupant use. The building's base is designed to respect the local character with a contemporary expression utilizing a mix of traditional materials, brick, and metal.

1847 North Humboldt

1847 NORTH HUMBOLDT

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Ranquist Development
Jodi Development

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Unknown

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
Pre 1910

STATISTICS
15 Units
3 Stories
18 Parking Spaces
15,000 GSF

Located on the historic Humboldt Boulevard and steps away from Chicago's popular 606 Trail, the project converts a century-old church to residential use, providing 15 new residential apartments to Chicago's increasingly popular Logan Square neighborhood. The development transforms the existing structure to include six custom apartments. With the original church’s exposed framework and stained glass details, the dwelling units offer a one-of-a-kind experience for its residents. Adjacent to the site was the previous church’s parking lot, which was relocated to the back of the development to make way for a brand new annex building with 9 additional units. The completed development provides 15 modern residences for the growing population in Logan Square that blends seamlessly into the historic fabric of the neighborhood.

CASE STUDY
Case Study Download

Clybourn Lofts

CLYBOURN LOFTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
c. 1900

STATISTICS
57 Units
6 Stories
60 Parking Spaces
140,000 GSF

Originally built as a 1900-era piano factory, the six story building was transformed into fifty-seven residential lofts. The addition of a brightly-colored steel superstructure to the north wall not only creates an innovative framework for exterior terraces, but is critical in establishing a bold new identity for the historic building. The use of industrial materials, such as expressive steel detailing, chain-link fencing, raw concrete block and checkerplate aluminum is contrasted wit brass, white tile and glass to create an affordable impact and visual excitement. The development strategy for the building was to offer an opportunity to customize the design of each loft. Working closely with each buyer, Pappageorge Haymes created a variety of unique architectural expressions. This level of customization was achievable because the firm also acted as construction manager for the project.

Altgeld Park

ALTGELD COURT

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Centrum Properties

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
c. 1960

STATISTICS
40 Units
1 and 2 Stories
66 Parking Spaces
89,000 GSF

Situated within an established urban neighborhood and adjacent to a railroad spur, the site was originally dominated by a 1960’s era industrial building which the community was unwilling to see demolished. As a result, an innovative strategy for adaptive reuse was developed which involved “carving” landscaped courtyards out of the original steel frame/bar joist structure and positioning open and garage parking along the rail line. Within the complex, bedroom level mezzanines are constructed of precast concrete planks bearing on steel stud demising walls with major living areas characterized by high ceilings, painted industrial framing and articulated fireplace walls. At the exterior, existing perimeter masonry walls are simply cut to receive dramatic over-scaled windows. Block masonry, corrugated galvanized siding, aluminum windows and colorful canopies all serve to playfully reinterpret the industrial aesthetic.

AWARDS
Distinguished Building Honor Award, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter
Builder’s Choice Design and Planning Award, Project of the Year, Builder Magazine

Dearborn Tower

DEARBORN TOWER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
State Street Development Corporation

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1906

STATISTICS
316 Units
18 Stories
389 Parking Spaces
196,000 SF Retail/Commercial
717,000 GSF

Formerly a giant industrial freezer for Beatrice Foods, the re-purposed building features 30 units per floor on eight of the original floors, two floors of commercial offices and restaurants, and additional residences added to the top of the tower to increase the density to 316 units. The massive base remaining from the original Beatrice cold storage warehouse has been stripped of its cladding, exposing the concrete frame with a recessed terrace window wall. The seven-story addition sets back and articulates the façade with a smaller, lighter grid. The south side of the building provides long linear balconies that double as sun shading devices in the summer. The north façade is articulated with a masonry tower incorporating a clock and mast thereby marking the building entry and tying together the new and old masses.

814 North Franklin Street

814 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horowitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1891

STATISTICS
4 Stories
24,000 GSF

This adaptive re-use project converts a former bicycle factory into a stylish office and retail space. The exterior is a union of three elements: an existing, highly-detailed façade repainted in colors that relate to neighboring buildings; a gridwork of glass and aluminum set back from the façade to maximize lower level exposure and a highly painted column joining the building’s two facades. The interior consists of three principal spaces: the entrance lobby, whose small rotunda is a setting for the interplay of forms, surfaces, and color; the office of the architect, a space that conveys conservative imagery within the loft context; and a free-form office for an expressive and adventurous developer. The latter office features work stations and other office functions designed to create a playful and colorful interior streetscape.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture from the American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

BMT Design 1

BMT DESIGN 1

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
BMT Design

STATISTICS
1 Stories
10,000 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos© Wayne Cable (.com)

First seen through a seamless glass storefront within the shell of an existing loft building, the studio and headquarters of this preeminent toy design firm is articulated in a profusion of differently colored and textured spaces that establish the theme of a “secret workshop”. Visitors encounter support offices connected by a suspended model train and defined by iridescent glass panels and a backlit glass door. The elegance of the partners’ conference room, with its orthogonal relationship to the building grid, inviting black leather chairs and fabric paneled walls, provides a sensory respite from the creatively contorted and skewed plan. A translucent gate swings into the terrazzo-floored room, where rolling chairs can be pulled up to a round table for game-storming sessions.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

Professional Office Design Award

The Park Monroe Condominiums

THE PARK MONROE CONDOMINIUMS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
GlenStar Properties

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Alfred Shaw & Associates

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1972

STATISTICS
215 Units
(10 Floors) 50 Stories
237,000 (10 Floors) GSF

This major two phase adaptive re-use project involved segregating the lower floors to independently accessed Class A office space and converting the upper 10 floors into 215 luxury condominium residences. A new resident lobby with canopy and illuminated marquis provide a distinguished entry at 65 East Monroe with access to a private elevator bank. At the residential levels, the existing narrow fixed glass curtain wall was replaced by an expansive operable window wall featuring private recessed terraces. Removal of a penthouse level mechanical plant allowed for the removal of every other exterior column which housed ventilation ducts for offices. At the penthouse level, amenities include landscaped outdoor terrace, roof top sky deck, hot tub, indoor swimming pool and fitness center, media and community rooms.

The Fisher Building

THE FISHER BUILDING

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Fisher Building LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Charles Atwood

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1896

STATISTICS
184 Units
21 Stories
14,000 SF Retail/Commercial
29,500 GSF

Commissioned by paper industry magnate Lucius Fisher for his office headquarters, the neo-Gothic inspired Chicago Landmark building was originally built in 1896 by D.H. Burnham & Company. After an addition was added in 1907, it became one of the tallest and most elegant buildings in the country. By the 1990’s, the building had outlived its usefulness and had fallen into a state of disrepair until it was restored and converted to residential use in early 2000. The highly complex restoration included the replacement of 6,000 pieces of terra cotta, the recreation of both original main entries, and the repair and replacement of 1,200 existing wood windows. On the interior, existing marble walls and floors, mosaic tile floors, and extensive mahogany trim molding and doors were also repaired and faithfully restored.

AWARDS
Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence, Commission on Chicago Landmarks
Best Restoration, Friends of Downtown, Chicago

The Buckingham Student Center

THE BUCKINGHAM STUDENT CENTER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Brownstone Realty & Development Co.

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Holabird & Root

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1929

STATISTICS
129 Units
27 Stories
4,680 SF Retail/Commercial
215,000 GSF

The transformation of this Landmark office building for new use as a 129-unit, 456-bed student housing center included the implementation of state-of-the-art building systems as well as the complete restoration of its brick and terracotta clad facade and original Art Deco Lobby. Large single hung windows were installed to take advantage of the expansive views East to Lake Michigan and West to the Loop. Each studio-, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartment- style unit includes ensuite laundry, a full kitchen and its own HVAC unit. The building offers abundant common areas and premium amenities including a complete fitness center, 27th floor sky lounge and an internet café with WiFi.

AWARDS
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, Outstanding Adaptive Use Award, Landmarks Illinois, City of Chicago
Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, City of Chicago
Finalist, Award for Excellence, Urban Land Institute

Bradley Business Center

BRADLEY BUSINESS CENTER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Centrum Properties

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1956

STATISTICS
3 Stories
187 (new) Parking Spaces
355,600 GSF
21 Acres

Located on Chicago’s North Side between I-90/94 and Wrigley Field, Bradley Business Center is a 21-acre commercial redevelopment surrounded by some of the city’s most popular retail and residential districts. The project will include site work and alterations and construction for shell and core improvements to an existing 1950”s era warehouse/manufacturing plant relative to speculative office and light industrial space. Also included are plans to expand the building with a 45,000 sq. ft. greenhouse for commercial farming.

Domain

DOMAIN

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Centrum Properties

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Schmidt Gardner

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1917

STATISTICS
292 Units
12 Stories
1,395 Parking Spaces
1,140,000 GSF

The renovation of this historic former warehouse complex for the Montgomery Wards and Company fulfills a multi-use program, combining a telecom server facility with residential loft-style units, retail spaces, parking, and a riverwalk and marina at the Chicago River. Special features include a 5-story, 16,000-square-foot interior landscaped courtyard carved from the vast interior of the structure, and a roof top running track at the 12th level. The industrial elegance of the original façade is preserved by the use of historic-reproduction windows and stepped-back terraces at a two-story addition to the 9-story structure. The façade at street level is recessed behind round columns in deference to the original railway docks. The curvilinear nature of the residential corridors contrasts the rigid structural grid, visually foreshortening the long halls. A consistent pattern language of design elements at the different lobbies on each floor provides visual landmarks, and counterbalances the rectilinear building envelope.

565 West Quincy Street

565 WEST QUINCY STREET

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
c. 1925 and c. 1955

STATISTICS
241 Units
18 Stories
189 Parking Spaces
9,800 SF Retail/Commercial
382,700 GSF

This unique adaptive re-use development involved merging a new eleven story modern steel and glass tower construction on top of an existing seven story brick and concrete building that had been erected in two phases in the 1920’s and 1950’s. The new and old masses converge at the eight floor, where the top of the existing building has been converted into a rooftop patio and sundeck with kitchen. The tower’s hanging balconies, patterned to match the facade color and material change, serve to further integrate the two forms. An 11,000-square-foot basement amenity level includes a fitness center, lounge, games room, putting green, movie theater and center-piece 2-lane bowling alley. Ground floor retail, parking and lobby space anchor the structure contextually and provide a dynamic street presence.

AWARDS
Gold Key Award, Outstanding Design in Community Design and Planning - Best Overall Community, Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago
Gold Key Award, Outstanding Design in Community Design and Planning - Amenity Design, Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago

One Arlington

ONE ARLINGTON

LOCATION
Arlington Heights, Illinois

CLIENT
Stoneleigh Companies
Stonestreet Partners LLC

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1969

STATISTICS
214 Units
13 Stories
313 Parking Spaces
21,600 SF Retail/Commercial
398,700 GSF

Part of the 27-acre Arlington Downs planned development located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, this adaptive re-use of the former Sheraton Chicago Northwest to a 214-unit apartment complex offers luxury amenities and close proximity to shopping and recreational venues. Apartments include studio, one- and two- bedroom, and penthouse options for all three, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows in all units. All residents enjoy access to a spacious rooftop lounge, party room with kitchen, and state-of-the-art Penthouse fitness center and 5,800 square foot outdoor deck overlooking the Arlington International Racecourse. First-level retail outlets as well as the adjacent Arlington Downs luxury retail development provide shopping convenience to the entire community. The residence is within walking distance of Arlington International Racecourse, as well as nearby Arlington Park commuter rail station (Metra) and is in close proximity to highway access and numerous off-site recreation and retail amenities within Arlington Heights and the surrounding suburbs. The entire Arlington Downs project also will include a Sheraton Four Points express hotel to the north and west, an expanded water park at the rear of the apartment building, and free-standing restaurants bordering the property.

Luminaire

LUMINAIRE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Luminaire

STATISTICS
2 Levels Stories
15,000 GSF

The showroom’s interior architecture is conceived as a sequence of interrelated sculptural elements. Spatial relationships, created through dislocation of form and axial alignment, influence customer use of space and clue one into its bi-level organization. These elements, an entry bridge and portal, central stair, and cash counter, establish a decidedly understated and discrete counterpoint to the display of the store’s high style furniture and architectural accessories. Transcending style, the image is modernist, purposely minimal, but precisely detailed.

Metropolitan Tower

METROPOLITAN TOWER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Metropolitan Properties of Chicago, LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Graham, Anderson, Probst & White

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1924

STATISTICS
242 Units
30 Stories
290 Parking Spaces
36,000 SF Retail/Commercial
710,000 GSF

An ambitious adaptive re-use project transformed an obsolete office building into a mixed-use facility integrating retail, parking spaces and luxury residential condominiums at an important downtown Chicago site overlooking Grant and Millennium parks. While introducing these new uses, the building conversion preserved the limestone-clad facade, the blue lit beehive dome, and the opulent bronze-and-marble lobby. To satisfy residential code, the building required extensive access modifications, including a single elevator serving all floors. In-depth study revealed only one location option which mandated a new freestanding enclosure behind the existing tower, detailed to address landmark district requirements. The conversion also incorporated 318 S. Michigan Avenue, an adjacent seven-story, timber-frame terra cotta-clad structure dating from 1899.

AWARDS
Vision Award, Historic Redevelopment, Urban Land Institute Chicago

Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence, Commission on Chicago Landmarks, City of Chicago

Best Adaptive Re-use Award, Friends of Downtown (Chicago)

Arc at Old Colony

ARC AT OLD COLONY

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Campus/MCJ Development JV, LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Holabird and Roche

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1894

STATISTICS
137 Units
17 Stories
7,000 SF Retail/Commercial
187,000 GSF

Built in 1893, the 17-story building is a pioneering Chicago skyscraper of skeletal construction with a supported masonry enclosure and floors resting on spread footings. It was designed by Holabird & Roche over a single weekend charette with the Monadnock Annex, Marquette and Chaplain Buildings. When the renovation started, the building had a 60% vacancy rate, 4 of six elevators non-operational, terra cotta facade condition problems, 653 non-functional monumental wood windows, a failed roof and one open stairwell for the only interior fire exit. The 198ksf renovation has 137 dwellings with ground level retail. A Penthouse facility with terrace were added and compliment the 2nd floor restored banking offices, now used for administration and gathering space. Two fire escapes were removed from the east facade. A second interior enclosed stair from Basement to Roof was added. Other life safety improvements include a fire alarm and sprinkler system, diesel emergency generator, and emergency lighting and voice communication systems. Historic corridor windows and glass doors were upgraded with a fire rated overlay to separate the dwellings and stairs from the corridor. Elevators were repaired using original bronze and iron grilles.

Chicago Landmark Building
National Register of Historic Places

AWARDS
J. Timothy Anderson Awards for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation, from the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association

Preservation Excellence Award, from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks

Silver Award, Reconstruction Awards, Building Design + Construction Magazine

Merit Award, Adaptive Re-use, Chicago Building Congress

Finalist, Vision Awards, Urban Land Institute Chicago

Nominated, UNESCO World Heritage Site

116 South Michigan Avenue

116 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz & Company

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Jenney, Mundie & Jensen

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1906, 1912

STATISTICS
17 Stories
27,000 SF Retail/Commercial
100,000 GSF

Originally known as Chicago’s Municipal Court Building (aka The Lake View Building), the structure was designed by Jenney, Mundie & Jensen and built in 1906 at twelve stories high, on caissons. Five additional stories and a vaulted lobby ceiling were added in 1912 in a bid to attract new tenants. The building was renamed the 116 S. Michigan Avenue Building and converted for modern first-class office space in 1986. Extensive rehabilitation brought the building back to its original turn-of-the-century grandeur, with complete restoration of the ornately decorated marble lobby and two wrought iron staircases. Other major improvements include new high speed passenger elevators, a new freight elevator, new bathrooms for each floor, thermopane windows, a new energy efficient HVAC system, and upgraded electrical and plumbing systems. On the facade of the narrow, glazed terra cotta building, two new columns are placed to visually support the structure and relate it to the existing streetscape, while a new store front and entry are detailed in a manner sympathetic to the original construction.

National Register of Historic Places

Pullman Bar & Diner

PULLMAN BAR & DINER

LOCATION
Iowa City, Iowa

CLIENT
Pullman LLC

STATISTICS
1,400 GSF

This adaptive re-use/renovation of a small 1,400 sq. ft. downtown retail space into a cozy, 49-seat diner draws inspiration from the days of the Pullman railway dining cars. The design for the long, narrow space utilizes an arched ceiling to enhance a railcar feel. The restaurant is anchored by a long lunch counter and bar, and features an open kitchen, where the exposed operations of the cooking staff serve to further engage patrons and add to the intimacy and nostalgia of the environment. Traditional diner fare is reconceptualized for Pullman’s menu, at once pushing the envelope while keeping things familiar. Additionally, the owners have partnered with Englert Theatre Director Andre Perry to curate a music playlist befitting the diner ambiance.

The Edge

THE EDGE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Adams-Des Plaines L.L.C.

STATISTICS
48 abd 176 Units
5 and 16 Stories
279 Parking Spaces
13,000 SF Retail/Commercial
353,000 GSF

This renovation/new construction project merges two separate building components: an existing concrete industrial/office building and a new residential tower construction. A five story, L-shaped portion of the existing structure is maintained and renovated for lofts while approximately fifty percent of the rear of the building is demolished and replaced with a new parking structure. The original building functions as a “base” for the new contemporary tower, and also serves to mask the parking garage. The newly transformed complex both respects its historic antecedents and presents a dynamic corner presence that contributes to the evolving fabric of the surrounding neighborhood.

Source, Inc.

SOURCE, INC.

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Source, Inc.

STATISTICS
3 Stories
14,000 GSF

This office and studio space for a prominent product and packaging design firm is located in the top three floors of a renovated sixteen-story vintage Michigan Avenue office building. Consideration for the duality of the business versus creative aspects of this company and the ease of communication between floors prompted its architectural solution. Sophisticated corporate imagery meets “loft” like studio space with a common theme of white translucent panels in an industrial metal frame. Two new stairways of open steel construction provide dramatic counterpoints and lead users and visitors to mystical “idea rooms” situated beneath skylights thrusting through the roof.

1800 North Clybourn

1800 NORTH CLYBOURN

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
c. 1910

STATISTICS
3 Stories
150 Parking Spaces
190,000 GSF

This dramatic renovation of seven interconnected heavy timber industrial loft buildings into a unique shopping and entertainment mall utilizes the monochromatic but varied compositional character of existing background structures while new architectural devices draw the user through a variety of spatial and visual experiences. Placed within a 3-level core distinguished by a skylight truss roof, retail becomes theater through the playful use of ramps, stairs, bridges, pavilions, water, sound, landscaping, color and other materials juxtaposed within the quiet background of the original structures.

The Richelieu Flats

THE RICHELIEU FLATS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Metropolitan Properties of Chicago, LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Hessen- Mueller & Meldahi

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1885

STATISTICS
5 Units
8 Stories
10,600 SF Retail/Commercial
26,000 GSF

The Richelieu’s contiguity with the historical Michigan Avenue Streetwall commanded a painstaking restoration of the building’s terra cotta façade and partial preservation of the original timber-framed structure. Sited on a deep lot which is not conducive to full residential use, the rear two-thirds of the structure was demolished and re-built as a concrete parking structure available to both the Metropolitan Tower and Richelieu Flats. The front one-third of the original structure facing Grant Park was rehabilitated for use as a two-story retail space on ground level, luxury residential flats on floors 3-6, and a luxury duplex dwelling on the 7th and new 8th Floor. The new 8th floor, which serves the top level of the duplex penthouse unit, is a contemporary steel and glass structure set back from the building’s original façade. This setback offers a large private terrace overlooking Grant Park, and preserves the building’s original cornice line.

BMT Design 2

BMT DESIGN 2

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
BMT Design

STATISTICS
1 Stories
18,000 GSF

Originally used as a commercial photography studio, the existing bowstring truss building offered a large, open and light-filled space for the playful and inventive build-out for preeminent toy designer, Big Monster Toys (BMT). Entered through a large translucent glass door, a galvanized steel clad “egg” shaped presentation room illustrates the key function of the company as an incubator of ideas. Inside the “egg”, a round conference room table anchors one end of the room where projects are demonstrated for clients. The glass-enclosed partner offices ring the perimeter of the open studio space, enlivened by an eclectic mix of elements and finishes, including a full size mock-up of a caboose that functions as a kitchenette, a suspended model train, stained concrete floors and custom workstations that are festooned with the designers’ inventions.

Washington Square

WASHINGTON SQUARE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz & Company

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Joseph C. Llewellyn

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1910

STATISTICS
6 Stories
96 Parking Spaces
28,000 SF Retail/Commercial
200,000 GSF

In its conversion to a first class office building, the eastern façade of the antiquated warehouse is entirely reconstructed. Translucent capitals crown over-scaled masonry columns on a field of blue-green glass as the building’s orientation shifts towards Chicago’s Loop. Directly adjacent, a three-level addition contains retail and parking. A translation of the original structure, its skin replicates perimeter rhythm and masonry as an arcade. The entry procession commences through a colonnade of stone and lighted glass block columns. Passing through the cross axis of a skylight galleria demarcating old and new, one ascends to the centralized lobby. The composition of masonry stone, terrazzo, brass and glass presents historical familiarity and yet enticing surprise.

AWARDS
International Illumination Design Award, Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence, Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
Honor Award, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Design Awards

Shaw’s Crab House

SHAW'S CRAB HOUSE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Lettuce Entertain You, Inc.

STATISTICS
12,000 GSF

River North’s premier seafood house is designed to feel as if it has been in business for one-hundred years. Playing off the loft aesthetic of the building, exposed beams and columns lend important cues to this nostalgic environment. The project includes a reception area, bar and lounge, main dining room and a more casual raw bar.

Oakley Square Apartments

OAKLEY SQUARE APARTMENTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
The Community Builders, Inc.

STATISTICS
247 Units
2 and 7 Stories
179 Parking Spaces
280,000 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographs courtesy of The Community Builders, Inc.

The project involves the complete rehabilitation and renovation of an existing development which provides 247 fully reappointed affordable housing units, including 3 bedroom, 2-story town homes and 1 and 2 bedroom apartment units in two seven story mid-rise buildings. The project also offers 5,500 square feet of amenity space for use in continuing education, outreach services, after school activities and community gatherings. The entire site, which comprises a full city block at South Western Avenue and West Jackson Boulevard, has received a reinvention of its landscape and hardscape. Of note is a more welcoming and pedestrian friendly main entrance and softer courtyard spaces. Design and selections throughout the project revolve around promoting a warm and lively residential atmosphere.

AWARDS
Vision Award, Urban Land Institute Chicago (ULI)
Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award, Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards

The Law Offices of Bartlit, Beck, Herman and Palenchar

THE LAW OFFICES OF BARTLIT, BECK, HERMAN AND PALENCHAR

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Bartlit, Beck, Herman and Palenchar

STATISTICS
4.5 Stories
40,000 GSF

The progression from the elegantly proportioned traditional envelope to the inner core, which is reduced to geometric forms and materials, reveals the firm’s emphasis on a streamlined, interactive method of practice. The exterior shell of the building was left untouched, while historic references were simplified or completely stripped away on the interior spaces. Common brick record storage vaults were exposed and rendered in a contemporary manner at the center of the plan, reinforcing the image of strength, stability and permanence at the core of the company. Central to the concept is the “forum” space which simulates a regulation size basketball half-court, creating an informal atmosphere conducive to creative thinking. An exercise room and a full size mock-courtroom, complete with a jury box, were program elements added as the firm expanded.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architecture, Chicago Chapter

Hoyt’s Chicago

HOYT’S CHICAGO

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Wyndham Worldwide

STATISTICS
6,300 GSF

Located on the first level of the newly renovated Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront (formerly known as Hotel 71), this dynamic dining destination offers creative, locally sourced twists on traditional tavern fare. Anchored by a bar, the sleek, contemporary restaurant features twelve-foot ceilings, a glass-front wall, and a seasonal outdoor patio area overlooking the Chicago River. Special amenities include an intimate, private River Room for special events.

Lakeside Bank 1055 West Roosevelt Road

LAKESIDE BANK 1055 WEST ROOSEVELT ROAD

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Lakeside Bank

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Tigerman McCurry Architects

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1978

STATISTICS
2 Stories
22 Parking Spaces
32,000 GSF

The closely supervised renovation process for the award-winning Illinois Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped insured all changes were carefully measured to sympathize with the building’s primary forms and essential character, while meeting the needs of its new commercial occupant. The exterior was repainted neutral white with blue accents, befitting its new use and matching the bank’s brand colors. The east wall’s metal panels were replaced by a glass curtain wall, matching their dimensions and rhythm exactly, allowing the signature wave-form window facing South Blue Island Boulevard to be retained. The drive-up canopy was derived from “found” design attributes of the existing structure, in which curved forms and circles are a dominant theme.

The Roosevelt Hotel

THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Frankel & Giles

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Jules de Horvath

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1892

STATISTICS
42 Units
8 Stories
4,275 SF Retail/Commercial
35,500 GSF

An existing 8-story plus basement masonry and wood hotel structure was renovated for student housing use after sitting vacant for eight years. Extensive repair of the facade was needed to address deterioration. The reinforcement of the structure was in need of special attention as a result of internal structural changes made in the 1920’s when Roosevelt Road was raised to overpass State Street. Restoration of Roosevelt Road to grade level in 1990 allowed the recreation of the missing ornate limestone and glass storefront above which are rental dwellings overlooking Dearborn Park and the lakefront.

National Register of Historic Places.

Haberdasher Square

HABERDASHER SQUARE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
American Invsco

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1910, 1925, 1937

STATISTICS
234 Units
12 Stories
250 Parking Spaces
460,000 GSF

This multi-phase residential loft conversion incorporates two existing structures situated in Chicago’s bustling downtown area. The larger of the two structures is a 12-story reinforced concrete building, originally executed at 7-stories in a Neo-Gothic style in 1925 for the A. B. Dick Company and expanded in 1937 to its present height. An adjacent 8-story heavy timber structure which dates from 1910 was renovated as Phase Two of the project. The design incorporates dwellings whose interior spaces are unified around a sweeping curved wall and soffit. This device at once defines all the major uses while serving to visually organize and affirm the character of a large singular interior room into which uses are placed. Twelve foot ceilings and careful organization of pipes and ductwork serve to further define space and allow natural light to reach the most remote points. Central corridors are organized to create a sense of movement through and around sculpted objects of existing structure or new construction. The building lobby begins with a restored entry and vestibule of rich bronze travertine and plaster sculpture moldings. The bold gothic inspired design serves to enrich the entry and become the counterpoint against which the new interior lobby and corridors are derived.

University Station

UNIVERSITY STATION

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
New West Realty Group

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Henschien & McLaren

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1929

STATISTICS
231 Units
12 Stories
236 Parking Spaces
9,200 SF Retail/Commercial
343,000 GSF

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.

420 North Wabash

420 NORTH WABASH

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Julius and Oscar P. Spever

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1905

STATISTICS
7 Stories
110,000 GSF

The total renovation and remodeling of this existing heavy timber, mill-constructed loft warehouse into a first-class office-retail building included the relocation of stairs, elevators, and new mechanical systems. The integration of the corporate office imagery with that of a converted loft building was achieved with a glass curtain wall cut into the building’s masonry facade. A new vertical slice of the exterior wall dramatizes the relocated entry and leads visitors to the axial, processional Art Deco style lobby. The sequence is further developed with aluminum reveals, marble flooring, and chrome ductwork. A glass enclosed stairwell connects the retail spaces on the street levels.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

Motley School Apartments

MOTLEY SCHOOL APARTMENTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Svigos Development, Inc.

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
John Flanders

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1884

STATISTICS
34 Units
4 Stories
16 Parking Spaces
50,625 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Darris Harris
Pappageorge Haymes Partners

The residential conversion of the historic Motley Elementary School, a 4-story masonry building on Chicago’s near West Side, includes the conversion into 34 residential apartments with attached interior parking, a new roof terrace, and elevator providing service to each level. To comply with historic Federal Tax Credit requirements, the project retains its Renaissance Revival masonry details in traditional red pressed-brick, limestone, and pressed metal. Ornate cast iron stairs, raised panel wood doors and portals, bead-board wainscott, first growth hardwood floors, glass transoms and cabinetry are among the many other materials and character defining original features retained and integrated into the completed project.

Chicago Landmark Building

AWARDS
Bronze Award, Adaptive Reuse, Best in American Living Award, National Association of Home Builders
Excellence Award, Adaptive Re-use, Multi-housing News
Finalist, Adaptive Re-use, Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards

Stewart School Lofts

STEWART SCHOOL LOFTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
4525 Kenmore LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Dwight Perkins

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1907

STATISTICS
64 Units
5 Stories
37 Parking Spaces
108,000 GSF

The renovation and conversion of the former Graeme-Stewart Elementary School to a five floor + green roof residential building provides a mixture of studio, one, two, and three bedroom apartments with tall ceilings and oversized windows - architectural features ideally suited for its Uptown district location. The original four level walk-up structure is improved with a tall attic and new rear facing dormers opening onto walk-out terraces and a landscaped roof. Included in the plan is associated interior parking and improvements to the currently landscaped portions of former Kenmore Avenue. The landmark Prairie Style building was originally designed by preeminent architect, Dwight Perkins, renown for his mastery of interior daylighting principles and interior school organization. Perkins’ completely non-combustible buildings and distinctive decorative features complemented functional needs and added to their lasting durable nature.

AWARDS
Preservation Excellence Award, City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks
Finalist, Vision Awards, Urban Land Institute, Chicago

Peabody School Apartments

PEABODY SCHOOL APARTMENTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Svigos Development, Inc.

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
W. August Fiedler

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1894

STATISTICS
23 Units
4 Stories
22 Parking Spaces
38,800 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Darris Harris

The Elizabeth Peabody Public School was designed by the Chicago Board of Education architect W. August Fiedler and constructed in 1894. The 15-room, three-story building raised over a basement stands out for its intricate details utilizing stone, brick, terra cotta, and decorative metal in the Romanesque Revival / Classical Revival style and is a noteworthy example of Chicago’s public school architecture in the late 1800s.

Following the closure of several Chicago Public Schools in 2013, Peabody School was sold through a public auction with a redevelopment plan to transform the historic structure into 23 apartments with a rooftop deck. The renovation encompassed the preservation and repair of the building’s facade, cornice, interior trim, and built-ins, including the refurbishment of various school furniture, chalkboards, and cabinets. Apartments are enhanced with a multitude of recycled materials sourced from the school to retain the historic character of the original use. Infrastructure modernization included the complete replacement of the mechanical systems and components to ensure energy efficiency. Additionally, a new deck was added at the roof level to be used as an amenity space for the residents. The existing stairs were repaired and extended to reach the roof, and a new elevator was installed to provide access to all levels of the building.

AWARDS
2nd Place, Adaptive Reuse, Low-rise, Metamorphosis Awards, Retrofit Magazine
Award level TBD, Adaptive Reuse, Best in American Living Award, National Association of Home Builders

Lind-Waldock & Co.

LIND-WALDOCK & CO.

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Lind-Waldock & Co.

STATISTICS
260 Units
34 Stories
309 Parking Spaces
9,000 SF Retail/Commercial
420,000 GSF

This rehabilitation of an existing heavy timber and masonry building for use as a new company headquarters and brokerage facility incorporates two trading floors, an expansive computer room, an executive board room and employee dining facilities, in addition to the office and support functions. Building Improvements include two high-speed passenger elevators, new plumbing and HVAC systems, and new electrical service, including a 200KW emergency generator and battery back-up system for telephone and computers. The façade of the building is given a new limestone cladding at the first two floors, following a classical motif. The building interior is highlighted by a terraced lobby running the length of the building with an observation area overlooking a trading floor. Mahogany paneling and terrazzo flooring are continued on the seventh floor executive reception area which terminates below a pyramidal skylight.

AWARDS
The Chicago Lighting Award of Merit

Infinite Chicago

INFINITE CHICAGO

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Gibbons Steger, LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Marshall & Fox Architects

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1910, 1912

STATISTICS
0, 56, 68 Units
2, 16 and 19 Stories
10,600 SF Retail/Commercial
500, 83,000, and 131,000 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Darris Harris
Courtesy of CA Student Living
George Pappageorge

The Steger Gibbons & Pickwick Renovation comprises the redevelopment of three historic buildings in Chicago’s Loop into a mixed-use student housing and retail complex. The renovation of the 17-story and 19-story buildings retains street-oriented commercial functions at the ground level. The second floor is dedicated to residents services and amenity functions. Resident access is focused through the Steger Building lobby where security, mail, and messaging services are located. Modern accessibility and life safety codes are addressed by joining the buildings with a connecting bridge at all floors above the 5th level. The roof of the Gibbons Building is improved with a new outdoor terrace and event room addition with height and massing carefully coordinated for compliance with historic site line requirements. The masonry clad steel frame buildings have had fire escapes removed and their facades carefully repaired in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. The Steger Building also has had a missing terra cotta cornice replaced together with historically accurate storefront replacements along Jackson Boulevard and Wabash Avenue. Along with a restored lobby and tree lined streetscape, these buildings revive an important corner in Chicago’s largest student campus.

AWARDS
J. Timothy Anderson Award for Historic Rehabilitation, Best Market-Rate/Mixed-Income Residential, National Housing and Rehabilitation Association

Pillars of the Industry Award, Best Adaptive Re-use, National Association of Homes Builders (NAHB)

Block, Street & Building Award, Congress for the New Urbanism Illinois

Silver Award, Building Design+Construction (BD+C) Reconstruction Awards, BD+C Magazine

Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence (The Steger Building), City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks

Finalist, Urban Land Institute Chicago Vision Awards, from Urban Land Institute Chicago

Honoree, Real Estate & Building Industries Council of Landmarks Illinois

CASE STUDY
Case Study Download

Park West Cooperative Nursery School

PARK WEST COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Park West Cooperative Nursery School

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1896

STATISTICS
3 Stories
29,000 GSF

Located in the heart of Chicago’s popular Lincoln Park neighborhood, and directly adjacent to the ‘El’ - Chicago’s Elevated Train Line - the redevelopment consists of the adaptive re-use of a detached 3-story Victorian single-family home (c.1896) to a nursery school designed to accommodate up to sixty children, school administrative offices, and interior play space. Included in the plan is the demolition of the home’s former garage structure and its replacement with the new construction of a modern 3-story addition. The addition provides a new elevator, stair, and entry allowing for an accessible route throughout the building. A children’s play area is located at the lower level with classrooms on the first and second levels, and administrative offices on the third level. Other features include a warming kitchen on the first floor and an outdoor play area. The exterior of the main house maintains the historic character of the original and it’s place in the neighborhood. A number of original fireplaces remain as historic artifacts within the classrooms and the lobby area, and original window and door casings remain at the first level. Incorporated into the design of the rear addition is a custom picture window at the second level that turns the 'El' into a feature by providing children with an up-close view of passing trains.

AWARDS
Vision Award, Urban Land Institute, Chicago

Armour Institute Building

ARMOUR INSTITUTE BUILDING

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Armour Institute, LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Patton & Fisher

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1892

STATISTICS
102 Units
7 Stories
75,400 GSF

The redevelopment plan for the historic masonry and wood building comprises the renovation and residential conversion to rental loft-style apartments. Included will be such lifestyle amenities as a fitness center, community rooms, bicycle storage, and new rooftop deck. An existing boiler structure along the south side of the building will be rebuilt with alterations to provide additional dwellings and common area uses. Work will include renovation and life safety improvements throughout the building, including the addition of a new enclosed stair from basement to roof. Exterior work will include the removal of two fire escapes from the north and south facades and the repair or replacement of masonry walls of face brick, terra cotta and sandstone. Existing wood double hung windows will also be repaired and replaced as needed.

Chicago Landmark Building, National Historic District.

Mulligan School Lofts

MULLIGAN SCHOOL LOFTS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Svigos Development, Inc.

PRESERVATION CONSULTING ARCHITECT
Pappageorge Haymes Partners

ARCHITECT OF RECORD
Bauer Latoza Studio

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Charles Rudolph

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1889

STATISTICS
24 Units
4 Stories
48,000 GSF

The adaptive re-use of the former James Mulligan Public School Building to residential apartments began as an historic conversion but was radically altered by a fire that gutted the school’s 4th floor. The roof was burned away and what remained of the lower levels was smoke and water damaged. The building was quickly enclosed, dried out and sealed to remove damage and odors. In order to maintain the old school character, the program set out to salvage and reuse as many of the building components and materials as possible. Re-purposed materials from other period schools, including discarded millwork, slate chalkboards, wainscoting, flooring, doors, jambs, transoms and other character defining elements were also incorporated. The project celebrates Chicago’s distinguished early school history and showcases the best features of the urban lifestyle. Residents enjoy unparalleled access to public transportation, shopping and services. A rooftop terrace provides gardening opportunities and spectacular skyline views.

Chicago Landmark Building.

AWARDS
Preservation Excellence Award, City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks

University Commons

UNIVERSITY COMMONS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
The Enterprise Companies

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Fugar & Knapp

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1925

STATISTICS
926 Units
4 Stories
1,570,000 GSF
16.9 Acres

The six landmark buildings in this residential loft conversion were formerly warehouse buildings that served as Chicago’s wholesale fresh produce marketplace. The original terra cotta clad structures have been meticulously restored to appear as they did more than eighty years ago. The original canopies have been replaced with new open canopies to imitate the original design, while integrating balconies to create outdoor spaces for the residents. The existing loading docks have been rebuilt and converted to private outdoor terraces for the first floor units. A new fourth floor addition has been erected on top of each building to house the upper level of duplex units, simplex units, common spaces and amenities. Fifty-foot wide landscaped courtyards connect the buildings and provide a private oasis nearly three acres in size.

AWARDS
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award, Presidents Award, Landmarks Illinois
Distinguished Building Award, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter
Pillars of the Industry Award, Best Project of the Year, National Association of Home Builders
Pillars of the Industry Award, Best Adaptive Re-use of a Condominium Community, National Association of Home Builders
Builder’s Choice Design & Planning Award, Grand Award, from Builder Magazine
Good Neighbor Award, Chicago Association of Realtors

The Montgomery

THE MONTGOMERY

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
MWCPAG Tower Holdings LLC

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Minoru Yamasaki

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1972

STATISTICS
247 Units
28 Stories
359 Parking Spaces
15,000 SF Retail/Commercial
545,000 GSF

Once a corporate headquarters, the high-rise renovation maintains the structural skeleton of the original building, adding a new curtain wall of blue-green tinted glass and brushed aluminum to compliment the original white travertine marble corners. The interior of the building is all new to complete the transformation from office to residential use. One-, two-, and three-bedroom units feature floor-to-ceiling windows, with 10- to 13-foot ceilings. Amenities include a fitness center with a park view, private dog run, community room and observation deck. A new circular 5-story parking garage wrapped in glass on the tower’s east side provides an architectural counterpoint to the tower and access to indoor parking for building residents.