CHICAGO, IL - Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates, a national, award-winning commercial interior design firm, announces it has completed five condominium models as well as the sales gallery at Tribune Tower Residences, the historic 36-story building at 435 N. Michigan Ave. that was previously headquarters of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. CIM Group and Golub & Company are redeveloping the landmark property as a residential tower featuring 162 luxury condominium homes priced from $900,000 to $7+ million.
“As Chicagoans ourselves, it captured our team’s imagination to envision residences within a building that is such an iconic fixture in our skyline and offers the opportunity to live in a quintessential downtown Chicago location,” said Mary Cook, president and founder of Mary Cook Associates (MCA). “Since the models opened, we’ve heard from the sales team what an incredibly powerful tool they’ve been in the sales process. Even in a building of this caliber, future residents benefit from some help visualizing themselves in a home and seeing how it will suit their lifestyle – whether they’re hosting elegant dinner parties, working from home or enjoying a weekend at their pied-a-terre.”
Cook noted MCA’s design process for the models was informed first and foremost by understanding the psychographics – the values, attitudes, interests, lifestyles, and aspirations – of the individuals who will ultimately live in the building. “Given the variety of buyers that this significant property and its unparalleled location will appeal to, we showcased a range of different aesthetics and styles across the models, but even more importantly we ensured our designs demonstrate the functionality of these floor plans by sharing ideas for different spaces based on our understanding of the specific lifestyles of prospective buyers and what will help them to live better,” said Cook.
For example, in a one-bedroom model inspired by the lifestyle of a single professional who entertains frequently, the MCA team showcased the flexibility of the floor plan’s home office/library by adding a set of contemporary sliding doors that create the option of closing the space off, or keeping it open to the home’s main living areas. Likewise, one three-bedroom model includes a dedicated gallery near the foyer, which MCA customized with built-in display shelving to show its potential for exhibiting an art collection. Anticipating the needs of empty nesters, MCA designed another unit with a secondary bedroom as a flexible space for overnight guests or longer-term stays by a college-age child.
MCA worked closely with the development and sales team to select the right mix of floor plans to use as models, ensuring the five units illustrate the breadth of homes available within the historic skyscraper, originally designed as an office building in 1925 by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. The featured models have one to three bedrooms and range in size from 1,678 to 3,374 square feet.
“Due to its origin story as an office building, the Tribune Tower Residences offers very compelling floor plan configurations compared to a typical new-construction condo tower,” added Cook. “As such, we were mindful to choose floor plans for models that were representative of the diverse layouts and sizes available and demonstrated the beauty and livability of these homes. Of course, we also chose models that highlight the show-stopping views that are such a persuasive selling point for this building.”
Tribune Tower began welcoming residents in fall 2021. The property offers extensive on-site amenities, one-of-a-kind panoramic views of the city, as well as convenient access to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district, the Loop, Millennium Park, the lakefront and the Chicago Riverwalk.
To view images of the Tribune Tower Residences model residences, click here.
About Mary Cook Associates: Established in 1986, Mary Cook Associates (MCA) is a fully integrated interior architecture and design firm nationally known for creating innovative interiors for leading owners and developers of real estate. The firm’s projects include multifamily, model homes, student living, senior living, clubhouses, restaurants, and hospitality environments. MCA’s work emphasizes functionality, showcases possibilities, and delivers a measurable Return on Environment (R.O.E.℠). MCA’s team includes more than two dozen designers and architects that are strategic, imaginative and skilled at designing a wide variety of spaces that respond to demographic, geographic and lifestyle influences of target markets. Smart, functional spaces that establish immediate connections with their users and boost Living Better by Design℠, increase property value, and accelerate sales and occupancy rates are the hallmarks of the results MCA consistently achieves. Currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, the firm continues its national presence with award-winning work that spans 36 states. www.marycook.com