The City That Works

Chicago has long been known as ‘the city that works,’ and the nickname has never been more apt. In 2012, a startup launched every 24 hours. Google, Motorola, and United Airlines have relocated to the city’s core. Demand is rising for healthier, higher performing workspaces. We worked with AIA Chicago to select six projects by local architects that represent the best Chicago has to offer. Tenant fit-outs by Studio Gang, Gensler, and Brininstool+Lynch push the envelope in daylighting and materiality, 4240 Architecture and Epstein|Metter Studio adapt existing buildings to new uses, and Solomon Cordwell Buenz designs a super-efficient new headquarters from the ground up. Here, we present each space and the architect who designed it, with the hope of showing the world that Chicago is a city that works and that where we work matters.

Use the images below to navigate between projects.