University Commons

Citation of Merit

  • Pappageorge/Haymes, Ltd.
  • The Enterprise Companies
  • Consultants Smartano & Co.; Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.; Rosenblatt Associates; Eriksson Engineering Associates, Ltd.; Charter Sills
  • Division Historic Preservation
  • Location Chicago, IL
  • General contractor The RJ Group

Photos

(Click each for a larger version)

University Commons photo #1
Photo: Pappageorge/Haymes
University Commons photo #2
Photo: Pappageorge/Haymes
University Commons photo #3
Photo: Pappageorge/Haymes

Overview

Turning six old produce warehouses with ornate terra cotta fronts into a 929-unit residential complex was a complex task, indeed. It entailed preserving the old facades, threading all new MEP systems through the structures, and creating light-filled residential spaces in what were once dim wholesale produce markets. A fourth-floor addition steps back modestly from the three-story original, while new triangular balconies echo the canopies that once hung in their place.