WEST LOOP — Presidential Towers in the West Loop is now officially smoke-free.
The four towers that house 2,346 rental apartments at 555 W. Madison have completed a yearlong transition to convert to a 100 percent smoke-free residential community. Smoking is now prohibited in all residences and common areas, according to a spokesman for Waterton Residential, the group that manages Presidential Towers.
One year ago, Waterton Residential added a no-smoking clause to all new leases in the community. The move earned Presidential Towers an award from the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago and helped the towers achieve LEED-EB Silver certification in May 2014.
The move to convert the community to smoke-free status was an ambitious goal, said Lela Cirjakovic, Waterton senior vice president of operations.
“It’s one thing to have a nonsmoking policy in a new development, but implementing this change across four existing towers — home to approximately 3,500 people — required a significant amount of planning and preparation, both internally and with residents," Cirjakovic said.
When Waterton surveyed Presidential Towers residents to gauge their support of a nonsmoking policy, only 3 percent said they would move to another building if smoking were prohibited.
Fight for Air Climb Sunday
The announcement comes as Presidential Towers prepares to host the seventh annual "Fight for Air Climb," a Sunday benefit that raises money for the nonprofit American Lung Association.
Nearly 1,850 participants at the Sunday fundraiser can climb all 2,340 steps in Presidential Towers' four buildings, according to a news release. In 2014, participants raised $391,000 for the cause, and more than $1.6 million has been raised since the first Presidential Towers climb in 2009.
Organizers expect to raise $420,000 at the Fight for Air Climb this year. Real Chicago firefighters in full gear and the cast and crew of the hit NBC show “Chicago Fire" are expected to make the climb Sunday.
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