A closer look at the high-tech condos headed to River North’s One Chicago development

As the foundation of the block-sized One Chicago development takes shape across from downtown’s Holy Name Cathedral, the team behind the massive two-tower complex has offered an early glimpse at the interiors. The images show 77 high-tech condo units that will occupy the top floors within the two-tower project’s taller 969-foot building.

“The first thing that strikes you is that the condos start on the 44th floor, which means you have great sightlines in every direction,” Jim Letchinger of JDL Development tells Curbed Chicago. On top of the sky-high views, each residence features a sleek design with 10-foot floor-to-ceiling glass, recessed LED lighting, and a contemporary kitchen.

Letchinger describes the aesthetic as “modern but warm,” complemented by the building’s architecture, which comes from Chicago-based firms Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. The spaces lack the flashy of ornamentation found in more traditional designs, opting for more subtle details like stepped ceiling elements. “A crown molding wouldn’t really fit this design,” says Letchinger.

Courtesy JDL Development

The condos at One Chicago are big on the latest technology and incorporates smart master bedroom lighting that alters brightness and color to perform wake-up sequences based on the circadian rhythms of its occupants.

Other high-tech touches include master bathroom showers with digital controls and a phone app to manage wireless access to unit front doors, elevators, and amenities. “I’m occasionally asked what happens if you forget your phone, but honestly, you have a higher chance of leaving home without your keys than your phone these days,” adds Letchinger.

At the sales center, prospective buyers can use virtual reality to see exact unit layouts, drone-photographed views, and interior finishes that can be changed to different colors or materials in real-time.

One Chicago’s for-sale residences run the gamut from 1,200-square-foot, $1.75-million floorplans to a sprawling 11,000-square-foot duplex for $28 million. Fourteen of the units include large 700- to 1,000-square-foot terraces screened behind seven-foot-tall glass windbreaks, while 38 offer eight-by-eight-foot balconies.

These 77 condos will be joined by 735 rental units located in the lower portions of the 76-story tower and an adjacent 49-story apartment high-rise. The two towers will stand atop a shared podium containing a Whole Foods Market, a Life Time athletic club (offering complimentary memberships for residents), a massive 120-foot-long dog park, and a combined 1,100 above- and below-ground parking spaces.

The massive River North development broke ground in March, and condo move-ins will late place in July 2022, according to Letchinger. The tower will likely compete head-to-head to the South Loop’s 1000M skyscraper which recently started construction and is also expected to open in the second half of 2022.

“Compared to some other condos, we feel like we have a bit of an advantage when it comes to construction,” the developer explains. “A lot can happen during construction, but one thing that you cannot change is your start date. Ours is well behind us.”

Courtesy JDL Development