A partnership of Oxford Capital Group, LLC and Quadrum Global announced the topping off of Essex on the Park, a new 56-story, 479-unit luxury apartment building at 808 South Michigan Avenue designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. The topping out ceremony also marked the closing of the historic Epstein-designed Essex Inn at 800 South Michigan Avenue.
The installment of the last steel beam represents the completion of the tower’s exterior frame, a significant project milestone for the development team. “We’re particularly gratified to have achieved this important milestone ahead of schedule,” said John W. Rutledge, founder, president, and CEO of Oxford Capital, the Chicago-based national developer, sponsor and manager. “This is in large part due to our great development, construction and design team, who continue to work closely and collaboratively together.”
The closing of the Essex Inn commences a comprehensive redevelopment and repositioning of the highly visible property into a luxury lifestyle hotel, including expansion from 254-rooms to 271-rooms. The two adjacent properties are set to open simultaneously in Spring 2019.
“We are proud of the successful collaboration that has led to the rapid construction of the superstructure of Essex on the Park, and look forward to commencing work on Essex Inn and completing what we believe to be a truly special project,” said Amir Setayesh, head of construction for Quadrum Global, a global development, investment and management firm.
Essex on the Park’s rental residences will have high-end finishes and amenities will include a multi-story “winter garden” with indoor pool, hot tub. Multiple indoor-outdoor spaces include outdoor grills/kitchens, cabanas, fire pits and sliding walls with striking views overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan. Residents will also enjoy a billiard/game room, business center and conference room, expansive state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga/fitness-on-demand room, club room, exhibition kitchen, bike storage and four floors of on-site parking.
With Oxford’s latest luxury lifestyle hotel in the adjacent building, residents of the mixed-use complex will have convenient access to all its many amenities and services, including a chef-driven three-meal restaurant with in room dining, as well as a bi-level hotel-operated “sky bar” and nightlife venue on the 5th and 6th floor of the apartment tower, overlooking the park and lake, SX, showcasing fully retractable walls.
The apartments will consist of a wide array of unit types including a mix of studios, convertibles and one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The top two residential floors of the building will include four extraordinary penthouse duplexes featuring elegant finishes, gourmet kitchen, large master suite, private outdoor space and spectacular views of the Lake Michigan, Grant Park and the Chicago skyline.
Oxford and Quadrum each have significant experience with high-profile development projects in Chicago and across the country. The two firms first collaborated to create the flagship Godfrey Hotel Chicago, a 221-key luxury lifestyle hotel that includes the largest indoor/outdoor hotel rooftop lounge in the city. The venture is also finalizing the development of the Hotel Julian Millennium Park at 168 N. Michigan Avenue, a 218-room property set to open fall 2018.
