As industrial lofts in Chicago’s River North neighborhood were developed, they incorporated the most efficient and effective structural systems of their day. Their architecture reflects these systems, delineated in masonry and glass. Today’s multi-residential developments require an equivalent economical solution: pre-cast concrete, which provides structural capability for integrating parking within the buildings, as well as acoustic performance and fire protection.

The pre-cast structural system in 630 Franklin is combined with other economical systems and materials to create a more refined architectural aesthetic. Pre-cast elements in the building’s exterior float within the glazing systems, and so extending the residential units and enclosing a multi-story parking facility. The lobby continues this approach with a composition of pre-cast concrete, stone, wood and metal set below a luminous ceiling.