"
Akris sought to transform its new Chicago Gold Coast location into a flagship that would honor the historic character of the existing building while establishing a modern, street-forward presence on this vibrant luxury retail corridor. The building’s recessed façade, set back nearly nine feet from its neighbors, created an optical disadvantage and disrupted the rhythm of the streetscape. With a vision by renowned architect David Chipperfield, the brand proposed a transparent glass atrium addition—elegant in form yet respectful to the original red brick structure. This addition would align the storefront with adjacent buildings, provide a striking merchandising display visible from the street, and create a defined point of entry, all while preserving the architectural heritage of the existing façade.
Chipman Design Architecture served as Architect of Record, entrusted with bringing Chipperfield’s vision to life. Our team translated the design into a structure developed in alignment with regulatory requirements while skillfully navigating the site’s existing conditions and the challenges of construction. The 36-foot-high glass façade was engineered to both highlight and protect the original masonry, balancing contemporary transparency with the neighborhood’s historic fabric. The design solution paired modern materials such as glass with the warmth of brick, complemented inside by a refined palette of white-painted maple panels, Italian natural stone, and Akris’ signature ivory horsehair fabric, creating continuity with the brand’s Washington, D.C. flagship prototype.
