CME Center

Chicago, IL, United States

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CME Center

Chicago, IL, United States

Firm

Krueck Sexton Partners

Type

Commercial › Office

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2021

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$50M - 100M

Photos

Invited to Re-envision a Legacy Building in Chicago's Loop for a New Generation of Tenants

Located in Chicago’s business district, the lobby renovation project reimagines an existing commercial lobby which has been in continuous use for the last 40 years. As the world continues to evolve, the obsolete lobby typology needed a drastic repositioning to attract the next generation of users. The CME Center lobby repositioning is a complete transformation of the ground level experience in response to the market’s need for liveable urban spaces which attract young talents, who seek authenticity and places of comfort for their work and community.

Transforming a Mega Tower Experience Through a Surgical Ground Plane Intervention

This lobby repositioning transformed the ground level experience of the office tower keeping 2,000,000 SF of office space commercially viable. Situated on a full city block between two busy commuter walkways, the renovation created a continuous, interconnected space for the first time.

The lighting design, 24-foot curved glass panels, and curved white solid-surface interiors create a captivating and memorable street presence for the towers. The transparent curtains unify the inside and out creating a single urban living room.

The entire lobby is enveloped by continuous solid surface arcs connecting the wall and ceiling in a modulated pattern. Lighting and ventilation are integrated into this white solid surface form, creating a rhythm in the ceiling that establishes scale and structure that allows people to intuitively understand the paths. The precise yet minimal pallet of material was designed so that the space becomes a stage that is activated by the users.

By converting the outdated lobby into a flexible urban living room, the building was able to retain its major tenants and maintain 95% occupancy during the pandemic market condition.