Marlowe is an exciting mixed-use project on a 24,010 square foot site located at 169 W Huron Street in Chicago’s vibrant River North neighborhood. The project includes a 15-story tower with 176 apartment units, 96 parking spaces, and 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The contemporary design blends into the neighborhood fabric by providing the tower with a sleek glass and metal panel facade. Internally, the residential portion is replete with a business center, entertainment facilities, a fitness center, a dog run, and an outdoor roof deck that features a 25-yard pool and grilling stations. All residential units have fully integrated customizable “smart home” technologies, it’s the first “smart home” apartment building in the entire city. Marlowe celebrates a new kind of “boutique residential” living experience in this eclectic area of Chicago.
© Dave Burk
The building features spacious and unique floor plans for studios, one bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Each apartment is nothing short of sophisticated. The kitchens are designer-inspired and feature herringbone-tiled kitchen backsplashes, Quartz countertops, and wide-plank premium flooring. There are also stainless-steel appliances with gas stovetops, and floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular city views. The units have several unique elements that set this building apart from others in Chicago. These include Sonos Play Speakers, Amazon Echoes, Honeywell Lyric smart thermostats, custom lighting fixtures with Lutron controls, and ample natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Marlowe transformed the River North area, specifically the block bounded by Erie, LaSalle, Huron, and Wells. This River North location keeps tenants close by being blocks away from the must-sees and must-eats in the Gold Coast, retail at the Merchandise Mart, or one of the many art galleries. Chicago’s CTA Brown and Purple Line L train is two blocks away and takes commuters south into the nearby downtown Loop area, or north to Evanston and Wilmette.
© Dave Burk
The ground floor retail spaces of Marlowe have greatly contributed to the Wells Street corridor. The local coffee shop, Limitless Coffee & Tea anchors the northwest corner of the building and has direct access into the residential lobby reception area in addition to a public entrance on Wells Street. There is also a boutique boxing gym, Shadowbox, located adjacent to the coffee shop along Wells.
Project Info
Architects: Antunovich Associates
Country: Chicago, United States
Area: 221 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs: Dave Burk,YoChicago.com, Landmark Architectural Photography
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Lumion, Adobe, Amazon, Bendheim Glass, Honeywell, Mermet Sun Control Textiles, Pulp Studio, SONOS, Skyline Clutches, Sunshadow Solar Screen Fabric, Trulite
MEP Engineer: Cosentini Associates
General Contractor: Power Construction
Structural Engineer: CS Associates Inc.
Interior Designer: ESG Architecture and Design
Landscape Architect: Jacobs/Ryan Associates
Developer: Lennar
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.