It has been nearly 100 years since Sears opened its doors in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. After decades of success in the thriving Six Corners shopping district, the store closed its doors in 2018 and subsequently sat vacant for two years. Novak Development, seeing the potential of the unique building, partnered with MG2 to reimagine this neighborhood icon as a vibrant mixed-use building. The resulting 6 Corners Lofts, a 206-unit, 394,000-square-foot building with a Target at the ground floor, blends modern residential living and retail while preserving, enhancing, and amplifying the iconic Art Deco elements of the existing structure.
This development is a successful model for transforming obsolete retail spaces into dynamic, mixed-use environments through thoughtful adaptive-reuse strategies. Today, across the country, countless department stores and retail centers sit vacant while demand for housing continues to increase. Developing successful models for reimagining these spaces is crucial; they reduce embodied carbon emissions, support community revitalization and preserve neighborhood character.
HISTORIC: After decades of success in the thriving Six Corners shopping district, Sears closed its doors in 2018 and the building subsequently at vacant for two years. HISTORIC PHOTO: courtesy MG2
The design reconfigures the structure into a U-shaped layout, which allowed for balconies and terraces in every unit.
Reimagining a 1930s department store required innovative design strategies that would transform the building into a modern living space. The first challenge the design team faced was overcoming the building’s deep rectangular floorplate. The design reconfigures the structure into a U-shaped layout, reducing unit depth while increasing access to natural light. The intervention allows for balconies and terraces in every unit, introducing fresh air and light into the residences. Units range from studios to two bedrooms, including lofts with 14- to 16-foot ceilings. There are nearly 40 unique unit layouts because of the constraints of the original structure.
The design also enhances the existing architectural aesthetic by taking cues from the linear forms of the façade, replacing solid concrete walls with rows of tall glass windows that emphasize the verticality of the building. By leaning into subtle architectural details, the design creates a new defining feature that amplifies the character of the building. Creating this look was no easy feat given the strength of the concrete. More than 160 window openings were carved out of 10-inch-thick concrete walls, each section weighing 9,500 pounds. Removing these sections was a painstaking task; the slabs needed to be felled within the building to avoid the busy streets below.
By preserving as much of the existing building as possible, the design avoids the release of significant embodied carbon emissions (carbon emitted by the manufacture, transport and assembly of materials) largely from the construction of new buildings. The National Trust for Historic Preservation notes that building reuse avoids 50 to 75 percent of the embodied carbon emissions that an identical new building would generate because renovations typically reuse most of the carbon-intensive parts of the building—the foundation, structure and building envelope.
MG2 studied multiple design options to ensure the final concept was a balanced approach between creating functional residential units and preserving the existing structure. Outside of the structural elements, MG2 and Novak Development wanted to retain additional elements of the original department store to give residents and visitors a glimpse into the past of this unique building.
The lobby maintains the original terrazzo floors, which incredibly still look like they were installed yesterday rather than decades ago. Also preserved are the 16 1/2-foot exposed ceilings, as well as the flared capital columns in the lobby and many of the units, adding an authentic, industrial flavor to the space.
Successful adaptive reuse not only reimagines old spaces for new purposes, but also finds inspiration in existing materials. For example, an original electrical transformer vault—no longer functional—was preserved to acknowledge the building’s past. In collaboration with a local graffiti artist, the steel panel was transformed into an art piece for the lobby, offering a subtle nod to the history of what was once there.
More than 160 window openings were carved out of 10-inch-thick concrete walls, each section weighing 9,500 pounds.
The building’s 10-inch-thick concrete walls enabled the addition of a rooftop lounge and pool with sweeping views of the Chicago skyline.
The Portage Park neighborhood is experiencing an exciting transformation in large part because of the success of 6 Corners Lofts. There are new residential developments in the area along with an influx of shops and restaurants. Not only have there been benefits for residents, the adaptive-reuse project is also serving as an economic driver with Target as the retail tenant, playing a pivotal role in the area’s Economic Development Master Plan, supporting the neighborhood’s revitalization and retail growth. Cultural investment continues to grow with Arts Alive Chicago, launching a sculpture walk beginning at the Six Corners district filled with installations by local artists. The walk was designed to foster a sense of belonging and encourage neighborhood engagement.
By leaning into design and employing thoughtful adaptive-reuse strategies, MG2 successfully blends modern residential living with retail while preserving, enhancing, and amplifying iconic Art Deco elements for a 21st century sensibility. Thoughtful adaptive reuse, like 6 Corners Lofts, not only supports community revitalization but preserves neighborhood character for future generations.
PHOTOS: John Boehm unless otherwise noted
Owner: Novak Development
Design Architect: MG2
General Contractor: Novak Construction
Structural Engineer: TGRWA Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: RTM Engineering Consultants
MEP Engineer: 20/10 Engineering Group
LVT Flooring: Soundscape 4063V from ShawContract
Cabanas: Sombrero from Mamagreen
Residential Cabinets: Shaker from Regent Cabinets
Windows/Terrace Doors: GT6700 Series and GT7700 Doors from Graham Architectural Products
Roof System: Hydrotech
Pavers: Estate Pavers from Wausau Tile
Rooftop Precast Wall and Ledgestone Copings: Ledgestone from Unilock
Residential Plumbing Fixtures: American Standard, Proflo and Symmons
Jooyeol Oh, AIA, LEED AP
Jooyeol Oh, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal at MG2, which joined Colliers Engineering & Design in 2024. Oh has been developing community-centered environments for more than 20 years.