Few architects have had the impact on Chicago’s skyline as has Lucien Lagrange. Lagrange has designed 27 important buildings in the city, including many in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Some of the key buildings that this Paris-born architect has designed include Chicago’s Park Tower, 65 East Goethe, the Waldorf Astoria and the Ritz Carlton Residences.
Lagrange isn’t quite as prolific as he once was, and he officially announced his retirement at least once, in 2010. “Retired,” though, isn’t quite the right word. Lagrange today runs his own Chicago-based studio, and is now working on a five-story luxury housing development in downtown Winnetka.
Lagrange, though, is best known for his work in the city, and his influence in River North has been particularly impressive.
Interested in living in a Lucien Lagrange building? You have plenty of options. Lagrange is known for his range. As his studio’s website says, he is one contemporary architect who can design everything from a Beaux-Arts hotel to contemporary steel-and-glass office towers.
Here is a list of some of Lagrange’s most important River North and nearby Gold Coast buildings.
The Pinnacle
The 49-story Pinnacle sits in the middle of River North’s Cathedral District at 21 E. Huron – The building offers 213 units in a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options. Those looking for a bit more living space might investigate this tower, which offers floor plans ranging from 1,300 to 5,400 square feet.
In addition to its central location, the Pinnacle offers a health club and spa that comes with a steam room, sauna and massage rooms. Residents can also take advantage of an indoor pool complete with spacious sundeck. There’s a private movie theater here and a meticulously landscaped terrace area.
Thanks in part to the hotel, residents can also enjoy maid service, valet parking, concierge services, on-site dry cleaning and on-site pet care.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences of Chicago
The Ritz-Carlton name has long been associated with luxury. The Lagrange-designed Ritz-Carlton Residences of Chicago, at 118 E. Erie St., is no exception.
This building offers 86 condominium units ranging in size from 1,400 to 6,500 square feet. The Ritz-Carlton is located right off of the city’s Magnificent Mile, so residents here are within a quick walk of a mix of restaurants, boutique stores and entertainment options.
There are plenty of amenities here, but the biggest might be the building’s Landmark Club, a private club for residents that occupies an entire floor of the Ritz-Carlton. The club includes a salon with bar, private dining room, billiard room, theater screening room, wine cellar, fitness center, spa and steam room.
Because the residences are managed by the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain, residents here can access concierge and housekeeping services.
10 East Delaware
Few buildings can boast as ideal a location as can 10 East Delaware. The residential tower rises near Millennium Park, Grant Park, the shops of the Magnificent Mile and the city’s lakefront. If you live here, you’ll never be far from high-end shopping, gourmet restaurants and plenty of nightlife.
The building itself, of course, contains plenty of amenities. There’s a rooftop garden and outdoor swimming pool, private owners’ club with kitchen, a modern fitness center and 24-hour door staff. Residents can also take advantage of climate-controlled indoor parking, bike racks and large balconies.
60 W. Erie
The 60 W. Erie residential tower is a great example of Lagrange’s versatility. This is a cozy, boutique building, one that emphasizes the humanity that Lagrange puts into his buildings. Lagrange has long said that architecture is permanent, and has a long-lasting impact on its surroundings. That’s why Lagrange designs buildings that fit into and add to a neighborhood, not dominate it. And that’s what 60 W. Erie does so well.
This residential building contains just 24 units, with most floor featuring just two. Residences come with private balconies, granite counter tops, stainless-steel appliances, marble baths and in-unit washers and dryers. Common-area amenities include a fitness center, 24-hour door service and plenty of storage space.
The biggest selling point of this building, though, might be its location. This is another River North residential building that sits a short distance from Michigan Avenue, State Street, fine-dining restaurants, shops and entertainment.
Erie on the Park
Located at 510 W. Erie St., the 24-floor Erie on the Park is a larger development by Lagrange, featuring 124 units. The building, built in 2002, features a combination of modern amenities and amazing city views. Some units have impressive views of the Chicago River, while others look out onto the Chicago skyline.
Common-area amenities here include a bike room, hospitality room, 24-hour doorman and fitness center.
The units themselves feature hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances and high-end finishes.
Kingsbury on the Park
Located at 653 N. Kingsbury, Lagrange’s Kingsbury on the Park development is another of his larger residential projects. The 25-story building, built in 2003, houses 130 units. The location here is again a selling point: The residential tower sits on the edge of Erie Park, a two-acre park along the Chicago River that provides residents with a bit of green space in the middle of the city.
The building itself features a on-site fitness center, bike-storage room, 24-hour doorman service and heated indoor parking. Units come with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the Chicago skyline and Chicago River.
Park Tower
Lagrange’s Park Tower, at 800 N. Michigan Ave., is an impressive sight. It rises 844 feet and 70 floors, and ranks as the 12th-tallest building in Chicago. The building is a mixed-use one housing a Park Hyatt hotel along with luxury condominiums. If you’re looking for impressive views of the city, this is a fine location; Park Tower sits in the heart of the Magnificent Mile.
The building contains 117 condominium units. And because these units sit atop the Park Hyatt Hotel, condo owners have access to all the amenities and services of that five-star hotel. This includes a world-class gourmet restaurant, NoMI.
Other amenities include a high-end health club, indoor pool, on-site concierge services and room service. The building is also known for its sun deck, which is famed for its city views.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago Condos
Lagrange’s Waldorf Astoria Chicago, at 11 E. Walton, is one of the grandest hotels in the city. It also offers 51 condominium units above the hotel. This means that residents here have all the amenities that you’d find in a five-star hotel.
A 14,000-square-foot spa is a standout. It features an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. Condo owners can also access a on-site fitness center, gourmet restaurants, valet parking and a pet-care program.
The units themselves are also impressive. Coming in a mix of three-, four- and five-bedroom layouts, the units offer impressive views of the city, 10-foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens and spa bathrooms.
