Located across the river from Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, the project sits on a bustling urban corner at the intersection of Franklin and Wacker. The design task included the renovation of the building’s entry lobby and the 4th floor amenity space. The lobby’s focal point is an organically-shaped vault with a knife edge that conceals color-changing LED lighting, creating a welcoming glow that mimics daylight. The coves' color tuning capabilities pays homage to the vibrant imaging across the river at the Merchandise Mart façade. It transitions from cool white in the morning to a warm glow late at night. A field of small scale downlights provides general lighting throughout. Soft cove lighting at the perimeter wall features the curved marble without reflections.

A custom cloud of opal-white globe pendants fills the Franklin Street lobby adding playful directionality and softness in the otherwise marble space. Backlit green marble end walls in the elevator lobbies add drama, drawing visitors in. A series of wall sconces with white globes create human scale and brighten the area above a perimeter booth. Pinspots integrated into the bronze screen wall add a layer of warmth that is more dramatic after sunset.

On the 4th floor amenity level, deep plum and evergreen tones from the lobby shift to lighter green and wood materials. A field of downlights with dropped glass diffusers add sparkle in the lounge spaces. A perimeter linear cove light wraps around the “wood block” emphasizing the core. Screen walls of plants are highlighted with luminous panels embedded in the shelving. Perimeter niches are punctuated with simple pendants adding intimacy for individual work. A custom mural is given brightness and depth with a 4-sided concealed linear grazer. Combined with a decorative pendant, and the green screen walls, the biophilic nature of the design is emphasized helping to connect the interiors with the outdoors.

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