Project Overview

This 27-story residential building showcases French period-style design elements such as handcrafted stonework, intricate detailing, and an ornamental roof. Constructed using 560 architectural precast concrete panels, the façade expertly emulates natural French limestone, seamlessly integrating with the building’s natural stone base. Relief work in the precast concrete exterior features can be seen in the deep precast window returns and elegant precast cornices, while the rotunda on the southeast edge is highlighted by gracefully curved precast spandrel panels.

The extensive use of precast concrete as the primary façade element not only provided significant cost and time savings but also ensured that the architect’s vision remained intact. Additionally, the material choice preserved Chicago’s rich architectural heritage, blending harmoniously with the city’s classic high-rise aesthetic.

Completed in 2004, the residence tower remains one of Chicago’s ten most expensive residential buildings, underscoring the resilient nature of precast façade systems. Prominently positioned along Lake Michigan, this award-winning condominium tower has maintained a dignified presence for two decades. Its exterior façade stands as a testament to the durability and longevity of precast concrete, with its high-quality texture and coloration continuing to complement the vintage high-rise landscape of the lakefront.

The 840 North Lake Shore Residence was recognized with a 2005 PCI Design Award in the Multi-family Building category. This project exemplifies precast concrete’s versatility, demonstrating how the material can emulate limestone with remarkable precision while allowing for complex, sculptural forms—such as the gracefully curved and slender design around the rotunda. The precast panels exhibit exceptional craftsmanship, with a refined finish and elegant detailing that enhance the building’s timeless appeal.

PCI-Certified Precast Concrete Producer:

GATE Precast, Winchester, Kentucky

Key Project Attributes

• Substantially complete in April 2004. Design began in 2000. Production of precast concrete began in 2003 so the panels are over 20 years.
• Warm Buff color and a light sandblast finish simulates the limestone color and finish.
• Using simulated limestone precast cladding over natural stone on the 27-story tower ultimately reduced the carbon footprint of the structure .
• Deep punched-window expressions, jointing and cornice line details were made possible because of the versatility of precast concrete.
• The use of precast minimized both construction time and was important on the tight urban site.

Project/Precast Scope

• Constructed using 560 architectural precast concrete panels - 368,010 SF
• Precast was designed for 127 mile per hour lateral wind load
• Total Cost of the Project -$37,786,000
• Achieve the appearance of an all-stone façade – required close coordination with the architect and precaster to ensure proper panel configurations and discrete panel joint placement.
• Relief work in the precast cladding added both depth and definition to the exterior surfaces through deep precast window returns and elegant precast cornices.
• Radius rotunda spandrel panels