Lendlease Development and The John Buck Company, together with partner Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation, announced the start of move-ins at Porte, a two-tower, mixed-use development at 855 W. Madison Street in Chicago’s West Loop.
Designed by G|R|E|C Architects, Porte spans a full city block bordered by Madison, Monroe, Peoria and Green Streets. It features a total of 586 residences, including a pair of 17-story apartment towers—each with its own lobby, amenity suite and unit finish package—as well as a collection of rental townhomes with private entrances along Peoria and Monroe streets.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our first residents to their new home at Porte—especially now, when home has become the backdrop for nearly every aspect of life,” said Ted Weldon, executive general manager for Lendlease Development in Chicago. “Porte was always planned as a live/work/play community, and we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what that means today and how we can provide that lifestyle in new and innovative ways. This has impacted everything from design to day-to-day operations as we prioritize safety, wellness, service and convenience.”
Porte’s tower residences include one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 546 to 1,591 square feet, with monthly rents starting at $1,960. Each apartment features hardwood-style flooring, modern kitchens, in-unit laundry, Nest thermostats and floor-to-ceiling windows that welcome natural light into each unit. Select residences also include integrated appliances, as well as private balconies and terraces. Porte also features a collection of two-bedroom, two-story townhomes measuring 1,470 to 2,037 square feet, with monthly rents starting at $7,250. Completion is scheduled for late summer.
“We’ve seen strong interest in Porte since virtual leasing began this spring, given the universal appeal of Porte’s spacious floor plans, extensive indoor and outdoor amenities, and its heart-of-the-West Loop location,” said Chuck Wagener, principal of The John Buck Company. “Our ability to now offer in-person tours has allowed potential residents to experience not only the strengths of the property, but also the surrounding neighborhood, where they are just steps from popular restaurants and retailers.”
Porte’s exterior pays homage to the neighborhood’s surrounding architecture with masonry at street level that transitions to glass on the upper floors. Nods to Chicago’s rich culture and its affinity for the arts are found in Porte’s curated art and fine craft collection. Each tower showcases pieces from Chicago artists and local galleries, some of which were commissioned exclusively for the building.
Each tower includes its own ground-floor lobby that houses an on-site concierge. Amenity spaces are located throughout the two towers, each of which offers a fitness center, entertainment lounge, communal chef’s kitchen and coworking space. Residents, who have access to common areas in both towers, share use of a dog run and play area in the south tower. The 17th floor of the north tower features the Sunset Lounge, where residents can host private events and meet neighbors during Porte’s signature events.
With an emphasis on sustainability, an abundance of outdoor green space was incorporated into Porte’s design. The towers are connected by a two-story podium topped with a landscaped pool deck with lounge seating, fire pits, grilling stations, seasonal plantings and ample open space. Striving for LEED Gold certification, Porte also features a rooftop farm in partnership with Roof Crop, through which residents will have access to fresh herbs and produce grown on-site. Green space is also accessible in the surrounding neighborhood, including the adjacent Mary Bartelme Park, which features a fountain plaza, children’s play area, dog park, open lawn, viewing hill and seating.
“Our firm has long believed in the vitality of the West Loop, and we’re proud to be involved in a landmark project that reimagines a long-underutilized block and reflects the neighborhood’s continued evolution,” said Peter Palandjian, chairman and CEO of Intercontinental. “Porte fills a niche in the market by offering thoughtfully designed apartments and townhomes for renters in all stages of life. That includes growing families and empty nesters in search of larger urban homes that don’t require them to sacrifice the flexibility and amenities associated with the rental lifestyle.”
In addition to offering proximity to restaurants and retail, including several grocery stores, Porte is close to the Kennedy and Eisenhower expressways, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and several CTA bus and rail lines connecting to the Loop and Illinois Medical District.
