Residences at 8 East Huron by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates

[Hafizur Rahman]

Valerio Dewalt Train Associates (VDTA) recently completed the Residences at 8 East Huron, on the edge of the River North neighborhood of Chicago. The client, CA Ventures, desired a very clean, modern-looking luxury apartment building, but the site had such a small footprint that previous architects had been unable to come up with a workable plan.

The tolerances were very tight, but VDTA found inventive ways to avoid a characterless "cereal box" building. The 102 apartments are almost all corner units, with excellent views of the city. The 26-story residential tower is wrapped in glazing with accents of white Ceramitex sintered paneling. Protruding rows of balconies are semi-enclosed by the window wall, which continues above the roofline and is architecturally expressed on the amenity level. To achieve its sleek aesthetic, the concrete structure is tucked behind the glass, and all lateral members are placed in a hidden level below the pool among the building's mechanical systems.

The 24th floor features 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space, including an outdoor infinity-edge stainless steel swimming pool and sun deck.