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
Multifamily Housing | Feb 21, 2023
Watch: DBA Architects' Bryan Moore talks micro communities and the benefits of walkable neighborhoods
What is a micro-community? Where are they most prevalent? What’s the future for micro communities? These questions (and more) addressed by Bryan Moore, President and CEO of DBA Architects.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 16, 2023
Coastal Construction Group establishes an attainable multifamily housing division
Coastal Construction Group, one of the largest privately held construction companies in the Southeast, has announced a new division within their multifamily sector that will focus on the need for attainable housing in South Florida.
Affordable Housing | Feb 15, 2023
2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects
In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. Here is a comprehensive list of all projects in alphabetical order.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 11, 2023
8 Gold and Platinum multifamily projects from the NAHB's BALA Awards
This year's top BALA multifamily winners showcase leading design trends, judged by eight industry professionals from across the country.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 10, 2023
Dallas to get a 19-story, 351-unit residential high-rise
In Dallas, work has begun on a new multifamily high-rise called The Oliver. The 19-story, 351-unit apartment building will be located within The Central, a 27-acre mixed-use development near the Knox/Henderson neighborhood north of downtown Dallas.
Mixed-Use | Dec 7, 2022
Bjarke Ingels’ first design project in South America is poised to open next year in Ecuador
In 2013, Quito, Ecuador’s capital, opened its new airport, which had been relocated from the metro’s center to an agricultural site 12 miles northeast of the city. Since then, Quito’s skyline has been reshaped by new, vertical structures that include the 24-story mixed-use EPIQ Residences, designed in the shape of a quarter circle by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
High-rise Construction | Dec 7, 2022
SOM reveals its design for Singapore’s tallest skyscraper
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has revealed its design for 8 Shenton Way—a mixed-use tower that will stand 63 stories and 305 meters (1,000 feet) high, becoming Singapore’s tallest skyscraper. The design team also plans to make the building one of Asia’s most sustainable skyscrapers. The tower incorporates post-pandemic design features.
Office Buildings | Dec 6, 2022
‘Chicago’s healthiest office tower’ achieves LEED Gold, WELL Platinum, and WiredScore Platinum
Goettsch Partners (GP) recently completed 320 South Canal, billed as “Chicago’s healthiest office tower,” according to the architecture firm. Located across the street from Chicago Union Station and close to major expressways, the 51-story tower totals 1,740,000 sf. It includes a conference center, fitness center, restaurant, to-go market, branch bank, and a cocktail lounge in an adjacent structure, as well as parking for 324 cars/electric vehicles and 114 bicycles.
Mixed-Use | Dec 6, 2022
Houston developer plans to convert Kevin Roche-designed ConocoPhillips HQ to mixed-use destination
Houston-based Midway, a real estate investment, development, and management firm, plans to redevelop the former ConocoPhillips corporate headquarters site into a mixed-use destination called Watermark District at Woodcreek.
Data Centers | Nov 28, 2022
Data centers are a hot market—don't waste the heat!
SmithGroup's Brian Rener shares a few ways to integrate data centers in mixed-use sites, utilizing waste heat to optimize the energy demands of the buildings.
