Ware Malcomb Completes Historic Residential Conversion in Downtown Chicago

Ware Malcomb announced construction is complete on 79 W. Monroe, an office-to-residential conversion project located in downtown Chicago’s Loop district.

Ware Malcomb’s Chicago office provided architecture and interior design services for the renovation of the historic 14-story building, which included transforming seven upper floors of vacant office space into 76 market-rate and 41 affordable apartment units, along with ancillary amenities.

Built in 1905 and historically known as the Rector Building, the masonry high-rise is the oldest surviving commercial structure by Chicago Architect Jarvis Hunt. R2 Companies and Lagfin, the building’s owner, developed the project – the first completed under the City of Chicago’s ‘LaSalle Street Reimagined’ initiative. Construction services were provided by a joint venture of Leopardo Companies and GMA Construction Group.

“Our team is proud to have a role in reimagining this 120-year-old landmark building and participating in the current economic renaissance within our Downtown Chicago community,” said Mark Schwamel, Director, Interior Architecture & Design, Ware Malcomb.

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About Jasmine Kilman

Jasmine Kilman is Content Director of Connect Commercial Real Estate, covering Chicago and greater Chicagoland, the Midwest, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest. She covers industry trends, transaction deals, market research, and produces daily news stories. With experience in marketing and communications for academic nonprofits and corporate clients, including Hearst Media, Hilton, and Coldwell Banker, Kilman has written about commercial real estate, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), technology, healthcare, and philanthropy. She was born and raised in California and graduated with a degree in public relations. In her spare time, Kilman enjoys hiking and traveling to new locations with her family.

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