October 20, 1938: More than 99,500 customers streamed through the aisles of a new Art Deco Sears store when it opened in Chicago, Illinois’ historic shopping district. After 80 years, the store closed and the site was reborn as a mixed-use housing development.
6 Corners Lofts, located at 4714 W Irving Park Road in Chicago, Illinois, is a 394,000-square-foot adaptive reuse project housed in a former Sears store, set to open in March 2024. Designed by MG2, 6 Corners Lofts features 206 luxury units, each with exterior access, and 38 individual layouts across 50,000 square feet of retail space.
Adaptive Reuse Residential Amenities and Retail
Window frames were carved out of the original building to create residential units with balconies.The project includes adding a five-storey wing and a fifth and rooftop/sixth floor above the original building.
An additional floor was added to accommodate new amenities in the original Sears building. Photo © John Boehm, Courtesy of MG2 The lobby of 6 Corners Lofts still features the original terrazzo floor that was laid for the Sears store in 1938. Photo © John Boehm, Courtesy of MG2
A rooftop pool has also been added, along with a fitness room, dog park, speakeasy, community room and co-working space. The loft-style units offer 14-16 foot ceilings on certain floors, stainless steel appliances and in-unit laundry.
The team has brought in Target as a retailer on the ground floor. With the revitalization of Six Corners, the project team and the local community hope that the shopping centre will become the second busiest shopping centre it once was.
Development History
Novak Construction is the developer and general contractor for 6 Corners Lofts, and according to Pack Paschen, Novak’s executive vice president of development, it was important to maintain the building’s well-known look and name.
“We are excited to further enhance the Art Deco look. [and] “It would do something that complements it, but it’s not an exact match,” Paschen said in a 2021 article about the revitalization proposal.
While the Art Deco exterior has been kept intact, Six Corners Lofts has been given a contemporary twist by carving out windows and adding balconies. Photo © John Boehm, courtesy of MG2
The project was touted at the time as a positive impact on economic development and business in the area, and Chicago politician Jim Gardiner hosted a virtual meeting with more than 150 people about the project in 2021.
While local residents largely applauded the idea, some expressed concern about the lack of affordable housing in the area: six of the units would fall under the Affordable Housing Requirements Ordinance (ARO).
About the construction team:
Developer/Owner: Novak Development
Design Architect: MG2
Architect of Record: Kohler Slater
Structural Engineer: TGRWA Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: RTM Engineering Consultants
MEP (Design Support): 20/10 Engineering Group
GC: Novak Construction
Located on the top floor of 6 Corners Loft, the speakeasy offers spectacular views of Chicago. Photo © John Boehm, courtesy of MG2
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