Lendlease Development and The John Buck Company, together with partner Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation (Intercontinental), today announced the start of move-ins at Porte, a two-tower, mixed-use development at 855 W. Madison St. in Chicago’s West Loop.

Designed by G|R|E|C Architects, Porte spans a full city block bordered by Madison Street to the north, Monroe Street to the south, Peoria Street to the west and Green Street to the east. It features a total of 586 residences, including a pair of 17-story apartment towers – each with its own lobby, amenity suite and unit finish package – as well as a collection of rental townhomes with private entrances along Peoria and Monroe streets.

“We’re thrilled to welcome our first residents to their new home at Porte – especially now, when home has become the backdrop for nearly every aspect of life,” said Ted Weldon, executive general manager for Lendlease Development in Chicago. “Porte was always planned as a live/work/play community, and we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what that means today and how we can provide that lifestyle in new and innovative ways. This has impacted everything from design to day-to-day operations as we prioritize safety, wellness, service and convenience.”

Porte’s tower residences include one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 546 to 1,591 square feet, with monthly rents starting at $1,960. Each apartment features hardwood-style flooring; modern kitchens with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances; in-unit laundry; Nest thermostats; built-in closet organizer systems; and floor-to-ceiling windows that welcome natural light into each unit. Select residences also include integrated appliances, as well as private balconies and terraces. Two distinct color palettes are available: North Tower residences feature a white finish package, while South Tower apartments showcase a gray color scheme.

Porte also features a collection of two-bedroom, two-story townhomes measuring 1,470 to 2,037 square feet, with monthly rents starting at $7,250. Completion is scheduled for late summer.

“We’ve seen strong interest in Porte since virtual leasing began this spring, given the universal appeal of Porte’s spacious floor plans, extensive indoor and outdoor amenities, and its heart-of-the-West Loop location,” said Chuck Wagener, principal of The John Buck Company. “Our ability to now offer in-person tours has allowed potential residents to experience not only the strengths of the property, but also the surrounding neighborhood, where they are just steps from popular restaurants and retailers.”

Porte’s exterior pays homage to the neighborhood’s surrounding architecture with masonry at street level that transitions to glass on the upper floors.

Each tower includes its own ground-floor lobby that houses an on-site concierge. Amenity spaces are located throughout the two towers, each of which offers a fitness center, entertainment lounge, communal chef’s kitchen, and coworking space. Residents, who have access to common areas in both towers, share use of a dog run and play area in the South Tower. The 17^th floor of the North Tower features the Sunset Lounge, where residents can host private events and meet neighbors during Porte’s signature events.

Nods to Chicago’s rich culture and its affinity for the arts are found in Porte’s curated art and fine craft collection. Each tower showcases pieces from Chicago artists and local galleries, some of which were commissioned exclusively for the building.

With an emphasis on sustainability, an abundance of outdoor green space was incorporated into Porte’s design. The towers are connected by a two-story podium topped with a landscaped pool deck with lounge seating, fire pits, grilling stations, seasonal plantings and ample open space. Striving for LEED Gold certification, Porte also features a rooftop farm in partnership with Roof Crop, through which residents will have access to fresh herbs and produce grown on-site. Green space is also accessible in the surrounding neighborhood, including the adjacent Mary Bartelme Park, which features a fountain plaza, children’s play area, dog park, open lawn, viewing hill and seating.

“Our firm has long believed in the vitality of the West Loop, and we’re proud to be involved in a landmark project that reimagines a long-underutilized block and reflects the neighborhood’s continued evolution,” said Peter Palandjian, chairman and CEO of Intercontinental. “Porte fills a niche in the market by offering thoughtfully designed apartments and townhomes for renters in all stages of life. That includes growing families and empty nesters in search of larger urban homes that don’t require them to sacrifice the flexibility and amenities associated with the rental lifestyle.”

In addition to offering proximity to restaurants and retail, including several grocery stores, Porte is close to the Kennedy and Eisenhower expressways, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Union Station and several CTA bus and rail lines connecting to the Loop and Illinois Medical District. 

About Lendlease:

Lendlease is a leading international property and infrastructure group with operations in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our vision is to create the best places: places that inspire and enrich the lives of people around the world.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, Lendlease has approximately 13,000 employees internationally.

Our core capabilities are reflected in our operating segments of Development, Construction and Investments. The combination of these three segments provides us with a sustainable competitive advantage and allows us to provide innovative integrated solutions for our customers. Our integrated approach means we harness the expertise in infrastructure, design, development, investments and management to deliver a project from conception to completion.

In the US, Lendlease Development brings over 60 years of global experience to bear in urbanization, communities and infrastructure development.  Leveraging our Urban Regeneration strategy, we are committed to delivering transformational projects in gateway cities that meet our vision To Create the Best Places, places to be enjoyed and celebrated – both today and in future generations. For more information, visit www.lendlease.com.

About The John Buck Company:

Founded in 1981, The John Buck Company (“JBC”) has an established track record and reputation as a premier, vertically-integrated real estate investment, development and operating company focused on major U.S. urban markets. Since inception, JBC has made principal investments in assets comprising more than $7.7 billion of gross value and acquired, developed, or redeveloped over 45 million square feet of office, multifamily, residential and mixed-use properties. For more information, visit www.tjbc.com. 

About Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation:

Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser with decades long experience in real estate investment, finance, development, construction management and asset management. Since 1959, Intercontinental and its affiliates have managed, developed, or owned collectively over $14 billion in real estate property. Today, Intercontinental manages a real estate portfolio of approximately $10 billion for its clients. The Intercontinental portfolio is diversified both by robust property mix and by geography. Fund strategies actively seek opportunities to invest in both Core and Core-Plus properties, as well as in Value-Add operating properties and development projects. For more information, visit www.intercontinental.net.

About G|R|E|C Architects:

G|R|E|C Architects is a world-class, national studio of diverse experts known for redefining environments by employing responsive, artistic and integrated architectural methods. Based in Chicago, G|R|E|C develops meaningful spaces by creating experiences for people where they live, work and play. G|R|E|C specializes in sectors including hospitality, high-rise residential, commercial and mixed-use, and interior design for corporate environments. For more information, visit www.grecstudio.com.