Minoru Yamasaki was a respected architect who first burst onto the national stage in the mid-1950s with a design for the air terminal at Lambert Field, St. Louis. He was best known, however, for designing the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center in the mid-1970s.
In between, Yamasaki, who was based in Detroit and died in 1986, designed several Chicago-area buildings including the corporate headquarters for retailer Montgomery Ward & Co.
Built in 1972, the Ward’s building doesn’t usually make Yamasaki’s “A” list of best buildings, but it is a tasteful, understated tower. And the commitment to build in what then was a decaying commercial zone was at least as important as the project’s design.
The decision paid off handsomely, though not for Ward’s. The company, one of the pioneers in U.S. mail-order catalog retailing, went out of business in 2000.In the meantime, the neighborhood turned around and today is packed with condo conversations, new buildings and expensive private homes.
A portion of Ward’s riverfront catalog warehouse, built in 1907, is listed as a National Historic Landmark because of its significance in the nation’s retail history. It has been converted to condos by developer Centrum Properties.
Right across the street, the company is converting Yamasaki’s modern white travertine marble and glass tower to 243 condominiums as well.
Dubbed The Montgomery, it is about 80 percent sold. The project is expected to be completed by early 2006, according to sales manager Tracy Braun. First move-ins are expected in May.
Several of the floor plans are sold out and the availability of the remaining plans is very limited. Buyers have a choice of units with north or south views of the city through floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. Sales have been about even on both sides of the building, sales agent Jordan Cooper said.
In the reconfigured space, the ground floor, now home to the sales office, will be a lobby with grand proportions, as well as a restaurant. Resident parking is planned for floors 2 to 5.
The first residential area is the sixth floor, where two models facing south toward the Loop are located. Both are sumptuously decorated, two bedroom, 2 1/2 bath plans.
The largest and most interesting floor plan of the two models is the G with two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in 2,325 square feet. It is the last one available and, as shown, is $975,000.
A similar and slightly smaller unit with 2,218 square feet is priced from $723,000, Cooper said.
Illustrating how a “grand salon” for traditional formal entertaining can co-exist in a contemporary building, the unit makes lavish use of space for public rooms including the kitchen.
The front door opens from the building corridor into a short hallway. Visitors walk past a large closet and a tiny study or den, roughly 8-by-6 1/2 feet, to the right, and into the formal living/dining space, 28 by 18 feet. This in turn opens onto a kitchen, nearly 16 by 17 feet.
A huge center island the length of the room anchors the space dividing it into an upscale and elaborate galley-style kitchen and casual seating at the island behind which is a wall of doors opening to storage closets.
The kitchen leads into a space, 15 by 18 feet, labeled “family room” on the floor plan.
Interior designer Scott Himmel chose to show this space as a French-feel eating area with draped fabric and mirrors covering the walls.
I’ll go with the architects and space planners on this. It is easier to visualize this area, with no natural light, adjacent to a powder room and a sizable laundry room, as a media room for the La-Z-Boys and the big screen than as a spot for European dining.
The secondary bedroom is off the living room and has a private bath and a walk-in closet. An interior room, this has a partial wall separating it from the living area and could make a dandy home office.
The master bedroom suite includes a 13 1/2-by-18-foot bedroom, two walk-in closets and a marble master bath.
The second model–an E plan with two bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and 1,647-square-feet–has a limited number of units for sale. The model as shown without furniture is $650,900. This is a more conventional floor plan with the front door opening into a small foyer with the kitchen to the right, a small hall and powder room to the left.
Directly ahead of the front door is the combined living and dining room, about 16 by 26 feet, with a south wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
The master bedroom suite is to the right of the living/dining area. The secondary bedroom and bath are to the left.
The ceilings in the building, about 10 feet in this unit, 13 feet in some others, has been a key selling point for many buyers, according to Cooper.
Certainly the volume does add to the feeling of space, although the E floor plan, like many others carved from former corporate offices, has the feel of three long rectangular rooms side by side.
The kitchen, about 12 by 12 1/2 feet, is larger than in many condominiums. It has enough counter space–and in this model plenty of sleek-looking cabinets–to be a real working spot.
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While I am not usually a fan of kitchens where the mess is in plain view of the guests, the open counter which forms a half-wall with the living/dining area allows plenty of natural light into the work area.
The short hall to the left of the front door has a closet big enough for a full-size washer and dryer (hook-ups are provided, appliances are not) and the powder room is a comfortably-sized space.
The master bedroom suite has a 13 1/2-by-16 1/2-foot bedroom with one wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. A short hall at the back of the room is between two walk-in closets and leads to the 12- by 12-foot marble-floored master bath in the building interior.
It is larger than necessary for my taste but should be comfortable for those who luxuriate in a big bathroom. Two sinks with storage cabinets the length of the room are on one wall. The tub, shower and a separate toilet room are on the opposite wall.
The second bedroom is on the other side of the living/dining room. There is an abbreviated hall with doors to the second bedroom, about 11 by 12 feet. It has a standard, smallish closet.
The second full bath is behind the bedroom and can be easily accessed by guests in the living and dining area. It is adequate for one person, two people if they don’t mind being very close.
Behind the bath is a tiny den. Marked 10 1/2 by 9 feet on the floor plan, the room felt much smaller.
Adaptive re-use is a tricky business. The developer wisely decided to keep the sleek look of the exterior walls of windows, but installed new operable windows so residents can opt for fresh air.
And those charged with space planning provided good-sized kitchens and generous master bathrooms, although the secondary baths are skimpy and, judging by closet variations in the two models, prospective buyers should carefully check the amount of storage.
The addition of an elliptical ramp at the side of the building for parking, while probably necessary, doesn’t enhance the clean lines of the building’s exterior.
Four high-speed elevators for residents are at one end of the building (the large service elevator is at the other end) so some homeowners will walk a long central corridor to reach their front door.
Because of construction on the day I visited, it was difficult to assess the final look of the grand lobby. Cooper pointed out the location for the planned infinity pool with cascading water, but if I were a buyer I would prefer the elegance of a serene reflecting pool.
In a switch from the past, the building’s entrance is now on Superior Street; it has turned its back on its former address on Chicago Avenue. The change was made because Superior is perceived as a better street, according to Braun. Judging from the number of residential buildings in close proximity now using it, it is a street that appears to be poised for urban congestion as well.
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The Montgomery
Address: 500 W. Superior St., Chicago
Developer: Centrum Properties
Phone: 312-944-7200
Web: www.themontgomery.com
Description: 28-story high-rise with 243 residences ranging from one bedroom, 1 1/2 to 2 bath units of 881 square feet to customized residences. Available units range from two-bedroom, two baths with 1,095 square feet from $399,900 to three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths with 1,794 square feet, from $753,900. Estimated monthly assessments: $269 to $1,200. Parking available. Prices as of March 22.
Amenities: Ceilings from 10 to 13 feet; oak floors in kitchen, entry, living and dining rooms; granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, marble floor in master bath. Doorman, dog walking services.
Neighborhood: Near river walk, restaurants and shopping, public transportation and expressways.
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