The Shops at Emerald

Greektown Partners L.L.C. / Harlem & Irving Companies
6 Retail/Commercial Units
13,250 s.f. Retail/Commercial
116 & 120 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois

The Greektown neighborhood, named for the ethnic restaurants that line a four block stretch of Halsted Street on Chicago's near west side, had seen a transformation over the past decade from one dominated by restaurants, factories and warehouses to a neighborhood with a more balanced mix, including new office and residential uses. In order to better serve the needs of the neighborhood, a 3/4 block site was assembled, from predominantly defunct and abandoned uses, for the development of a new commercial building to house retail and service establishments.

Containing 13,250 s.f. of commercial space, the building is positioned tight to the sidewalk in order to maintain the street wall and contain the energy of this vibrant, pedestrian friendly, commercial street. Lacking the alley network found in many of Chicago's blocks, the building is divided into two parts in order to provide vehicular access to parking, loading and service operations concealed at the rear. This access drive is flanked by two glass towers that wrap the corners to provide prominence for the commercial tenants, and to help break-up the building's massing along the street frontage.

The storefront is treated as a linear ribbon of glass, projected slightly forward of the masonry wall from which it projects. This treatment offers maximum visibility and flexibility in the division and treatment of the commercial space within. A continuous bris soleil is integrated into the storefront to serve as both a shading device and as an armature for tenant signage.