Lofty Goals by Andra Naylor

Winthrop borrows loft design for new condos at 111 Morgan

After the loft boom of the ‘90s, few industrial buildings suitable for conversion remained in Chicago’s prime neighborhoods, but the demand for lofts’ flexible floor plans, urban character and copious light was greater than ever. Lofts, once associated with artists and a bohemian lifestyle, came of age in the ‘90s as a popular choice for young professionals and first-time home buyers.

But lofts’ popularity paradoxically presented developers with a dilemma, how to meet this demand with the supply of conversion candidates in central neighborhoods drying up.

The solution for Evanston-based Winthrop Properties was simple: If you build it, they will come.

The company’s One One One Morgan, at Adams and Morgan in the West Loop, is a brand new nine-story building that offers 166 loft-like units. By definition, the word “loft” refers to adaptive reuse and projects like Printers Row Lofts, another Winthrop Properties venture, located in the South Loop. The true lofts converting to condos at this project have attracted buyers with lofty features such as high ceilings and exposed timber beams, ductwork and brick.

At 111 Morgan, the decision to emulate such features in a brand new building had everything to do with the site’s lofty surroundings and its configuration, according to Bob Horner, a co-principal with Ibrahim Shihadeh in Winthrop Properties, the developer.

“When you have a property that is relatively long and narrow, you end up with units that tend to be long and narrow,” said Horner. “The loft construction code tends to work best. You have the ability to have bedrooms with borrowed light and ventilation.”

In most floor plans at 111 Morgan, bedrooms are located in the back of the unit. A loft-style design, with ten-foot ceilings and partial-height walls, allows ample light from extra-tall windows in the front of the unit to get to those rooms.

“One of the most attractive features of 111 Morgan is the tall windows that provide tremendous light and great views of the West Loop and downtown,” Horner said. “We really wanted to offer high ceilings and spacious rooms.”

Units range from 700 to 1,400 square feet, with one to two bedrooms plus dens and one to two baths.
Base prices range from the $190s to $400,000. According to Horner, 80 percent of the units have been sold and the building is virtually complete, with some units already occupied. A number of units are available for delivery in 30 days, and at press time, the nine available penthouses were ready for delivery in 60 days.

Context was another important factor in shaping the design for 111 Morgan. The project is surrounded by the stolid architecture of manufacturing buildings turned lofts in the West Loop, a growing neighborhood of upscale restaurants and art galleries perched on the edge of the major expressways.

“There’s not much product left in desirable areas to do a loft,” Horner said. “But it’s an attractive architectural style and fits in well with the neighborhood.”

Designed by Fitzgerald & Associates, one of the pioneers in Chicago loft design, 111 Morgan has all the advantages of new construction. The principal perk, according to Horner, is that unlike older buildings designed for commercial purposes, 111 Morgan has few unknowns. The developer was able to remedy basic problems associated with lofts by building from scratch.

“This building offers a greater sense of privacy than most loft buildings,” Horner said. “It’s hard to sound-insulate old buildings, but in 111 Morgan, there are 10 inches of concrete between floors, with insulation. That gives us the ability to keep heating and cooling costs down.”

And unlike a lot of loft conversions, parking is not a problem at One One One Morgan, according to Horner.

“In many older loft buildings, parking is limited to the basement, and you often run into difficult space with columns in weird places, making it difficult to park,” Horner said.

One One One Morgan offers heated, indoor parking located in the basement, first and second floors for $25,000 per space. Other building amenities include a deli-like convenience store on the 1st floor, a 24-hour doorman and an on-site manager.

Winthrop also included a high level of standard finishes, according to Horner, so buyers don’t have to worry about the price of massive upgrades.

“We don’t want people to spend an arm and a leg getting the unit the way they want it,” Horner said. Standard features include fireplaces with oak mantles, hardwood floors in living areas, granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, track lighting, solid-core doors and deep soaking tubs.

“Although we can’t offer the charm and character of a loft with exposed brick walls and timber beams, we do have the high ceilings, large rooms and industrial look, with exposed ductwork,” Horner said. “We offer the flexibility of not having to rip up drywall every time you want to rewire or replumb.”

Not that buyers ever should have to worry about construction standards at 111 Morgan.

The headquarters for Walsh Construction, the general contractor at 111 Morgan and one of the nation’s largest construction companies, is located directly across the street.

“Walsh can’t run away and hide,” Horner said. “They’re going to be right there to take care of any warranty issues that could arise in the future.”

A sales center and two furnished models are open in the building, at 111 S. Morgan.