October 20, 1938: More than 99,500 customers poured into the aisles of a new art deco-inspired Sears store in the historic shopping district of Chicago, Ill. After closing its doors 80 years later, the site has been reborn as a mixed-use multifamily housing development.
6 Corners Lofts at 4714 W Irving Park Road, Chicago, Ill., opened in March of 2024 as a 394,000-sf adaptive reuse project born out of a former Sears store. Designed by MG2, 6 Corners Lofts features 38 individual layouts among 206 luxury units—each with access to the outside—and 50,000 sf of retail space.
Adaptive Reuse Housing Amenities and Retail
Widows were punched out of the original building to create the residential units coupled with balconies. The project includes the addition of a five-story wing, as well as a fifth and roof/sixth floor over the original building.
A rooftop pool was added in addition to a fitness room, dog park, speakeasy, community room, and co-working space. The loft-style units include 14- to 16-foot ceilings on certain floors, stainless steel appliances, and in-unit laundry.
The team brought Target in on the ground floor as the retail provider. With the revitalization of Six Corners, the project team as well as the local community hope it can become the second-busiest shopping center it once was.
Development History
Novak Construction is both the developer and general contractor for 6 Corners Lofts. According to Pack Paschen, Executive Vice President of Development at Novak, keeping the famous façade and name of the building was essential.
“We are excited to try to enhance the art deco look of it [and] do something that would complement it but not exactly match it,” Paschen said in a 2021 article on the proposition of the revitalization.
The project was touted as a positive benefit to the economic development and businesses to the area at the time. Chicago politician Jim Gardiner led a virtual meeting of over 150 people on the project back in 2021.
While the community largely applauded the idea, some raised concern of the lack of affordable housing in the area. Six of the units are Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) units.
On the Building Team:
Developer/Owner: Novak Development
Design Architect: MG2
Architect of Record: Kahler Slater
Structural Engineer: TGRWA Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: RTM Engineering Consultants
MEP (Design-Assist): 20/10 Engineering Group
GC: Novak Construction
Related Stories
Standards | Jun 26, 2023
New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings
The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.
Mixed-Use | Jun 12, 2023
Goettsch Partners completes its largest China project to date: a mixed-used, five-tower complex
Chicago-based global architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) recently announced the completion of its largest project in China to date: the China Resources Qianhai Center, a mixed-use complex in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen. Developed by CR Land, the project includes five towers totaling almost 472,000 square meters (4.6 million sf).
Architects | Jun 6, 2023
Taking storytelling to a new level in building design, with Gensler's Bob Weis and Andy Cohen
Bob Weis, formerly the head of Disney Imagineering, was recently hired by Gensler as its Global Immersive Experience Design Leader. He joins the firm's co-CEO Andy Cohen to discuss how Gensler will focus on storytelling to connect people to its projects.
Mixed-Use | Jun 6, 2023
Public-private partnerships crucial to central business district revitalization
Central Business Districts are under pressure to keep themselves relevant as they face competition from new, vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods emerging across the world’s largest cities.
Urban Planning | Jun 2, 2023
Designing a pedestrian-focused city in downtown Phoenix
What makes a city walkable? Shepley Bulfinch's Omar Bailey, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, believes pedestrian focused cities benefit most when they're not only easy to navigate, but also create spaces where people can live, work, and play.
Mixed-Use | Jun 1, 2023
The Moore Building, a 16-story office and retail development, opens in Nashville’s Music Row district
Named after Elvis Presley’s onetime guitarist, The Moore Building, a 16-story office building with ground-floor retail space, has opened in Nashville’s Music Row district. Developed by Portman and Creed Investment Company and designed by Gresham Smith, The Moore Building offers 236,000 sf of office space and 8,500 sf of ground-floor retail.
| Apr 28, 2023
$1 billion mixed-use multifamily development will add 1,200 units to South Florida market
A giant $1 billion residential project, The District in Davie, will bring 1.6 million sf of new Class A residential apartments to the hot South Florida market. Located near Ft. Lauderdale and greater Miami, the development will include 36,000 sf of restaurants and retail space. The development will also provide 1.1 million sf of access controlled onsite parking with 2,650 parking spaces.
Mixed-Use | Apr 27, 2023
New Jersey turns a brownfield site into Steel Tech, a 3.3-acre mixed-use development
In Jersey City, N.J., a 3.3-acre redevelopment project called Steel Tech will turn a brownfield site into a mixed-use residential high-rise building, a community center, two public plazas, and a business incubator facility. Steel Tech received site plan approval in recent weeks.
Green | Apr 21, 2023
Top 10 green building projects for 2023
The Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex in Boston and the Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis are among the AIA COTE Top Ten Awards honorees for 2023.
Urban Planning | Apr 17, 2023
The future of the 20-minute city
Gensler's Stacey Olson breaks down the pros and cons of the "20-minute city," from equity concerns to data-driven design.
