Evanston, Ill.-based Morgante Wilson Architects, Ltd., has added to its growing portfolio of multifamily interiors work with the completion of Westerly, a recently opened luxury rental community in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Tapped for the project by developer Fifield Cos., the Morgante Wilson Architects (MWA) team designed and programmed all amenity spaces and common areas for the 11-story, 188-unit building.
In addition to designing Westerly’s lobby and mailroom, first-floor leasing center, a third-floor suite of indoor and outdoor amenities, and a penthouse-level party room, MWA also selected the package of interior finishes featured in each residence.
The interplay between natural and urban is evident immediately upon entering Westerly’s lobby, where a custom-designed reception desk – composed of over 50 individually cut curving wood planes – sits in front of a hand-painted abstract mural, with hand-carved solid Chamcha wood chairs draped with sheep skin, a 16-foot tufted couch, and end-grain flooring softening the industrial edge of floor-to-ceiling black-framed windows and the bustling streetscape beyond.
In the third-floor amenity suite, which includes a fitness center, coworking space and resident lounge and dining area, the contrast between organic and industrial continues. MWA worked with the owner of Woodstock, Ill.-based Designing in Concrete to design custom polished epoxy/concrete floors in the lounge and dining area, blending the urban look of concrete with swirls of gold, silver and pewter. Sliding glass doors framed in black metal can separate the dining space from one of the many seating areas in the lounge, and are softened by open wood shelving displaying lush greenery.
The MWA team also curated the finish package for residences at Westerly, including selections for kitchens, baths and flooring.
Westerly was designed by FitzGerald Associates Architects and built by James McHugh Construction Co.
