Chicago’s Aurélien Ready for Residents
Ryan Cos. completed the 31-story, 368-unit luxury tower some two years after it broke ground on the high-rise project. The cost of the development reached $100 million.
By Roxana Baiceanu
Ryan Cos. US Inc. and Lincoln Property Co. completed Aurélien, a 31-story, 368-unit luxury community located at the southeast corner of Clark and Chestnut streets. The $100 million project marks Ryan’s first major development in the City of Chicago. Lincoln Property, which is responsible for leasing the units, has currently brought the tower to a 50 percent occupancy.
Sophisticated design
Ryan A+ E, the design architect, opted to combine two architectural styles to erect the tower. One is responsible for the buff-colored solid massing, dotted with several punched openings to which the granite cladding and large storefront window bays were added. The other style is reflected by the all-glass massing which is incorporated into the north end part of the building.
“My favorite quality of this project is how transformed the immediate neighborhood feels. What was once a surface parking lot with a bank drive-thru is now a thriving extension of the city. At the same time, the project is bookended by a historic bank building and row house so the variety of architecture and sense of fitting in is very apparent,” said Mike Ryan, president of Ryan A+E, in prepared remarks.
Notable amenities
Aurélien incorporates 78 studios and convertibles, 209 one-bedroom, 75 two-bedroom and six penthouse units. Apartments vary in size from 564 square feet to 1,245 square feet, with penthouses being larger and go up to 3,339 square feet. All interiors feature flat-panel, high-gloss cabinetry in the kitchen and designer ceramic and porcelain tiles in the bathroom. Several units have private balconies.
Amenities are concentrated on the rooftop, fourth-floor and ground floor. The rooftop features an outdoor pool, private cabanas and outdoor fireplaces, a social club, party room with a gaming center and a fitness center. The fourth-floor offers a private terrace, bocce ball courts, fire pits, grilling stations and several terraces for residents. Among other things, the ground floor hosts a private dog run and grooming station, a library, business center and conference area.
The luxury tower’s location close to the Gold Coast is meant to attract primarily young professionals and urban couples. The site offers convenient access to public transportation for those working downtown as well as to Lake Shore Drive and Kennedy Expressway for those having to commute to the suburbs. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, CBD, Northwestern and Loyola University graduate school campuses are within walking distance.
The team contributing to the completion of the project also included Daiwa House of Texas as primary equity investor, U.S. Bank, Antunovich Associates as architect of record, Studio K for the interior design and TGRWA, which provided the structural engineering services.
Images courtesy of Aurélien Chicago.com and Ryan Co.
