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World-Renowned Architect Helmut Jahn In Talks To Move Firm To West Loop

By Stephanie Lulay | September 30, 2016 8:30am | Updated on September 30, 2016 8:35am
 A building at 1210 W. Lake St. could house world-renowned architect Helmut Jahn's future offices.
A building at 1210 W. Lake St. could house world-renowned architect Helmut Jahn's future offices.
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Bugaj Architects.

WEST LOOP — A famous architect is making plans to relocate his offices to the West Loop. 

Helmut Jahn, namesake of JAHN architects, is in talks to move the firm to 1210 W. Lake St., according to Bernie Citron, a Thompson Coburn attorney representing the building's developer. The firm is currently located in the Jewelers Building at 35 E. Wacker in the Loop. 

West Loop real estate firm R2 Companies is working to rehab the interior of the 12,000-square-foot Lake Street building, which currently houses auto shop Wizard Werks, converting the building for office use, said Matt Duhig, R2 principal. The auto shop's lease expires in early 2017.

The brick and concrete loft building features 35-foot bow truss ceilings and is two blocks from the CTA Green Line's Morgan 'L' stop. 

JAHN hasn't signed a lease on the space yet, but the deal is close to being completed, Duhig said at a sparsely-attended community meeting this week. 

Honored in 2012 with the American Institute of Architects Chicago Lifetime Achieve Award, 76-year-old Jahn is known internationally for his work on projects that include the Song Center in Berlin, the European Union headquarters in Brussels, the James R. Thompson Center in Downtown Chicago, the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare International Airport and the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. Jahn also helped design McCormick Place East on Chicago's lakefront. 

Helmut Jahn (DNAinfo/Ted Cox)

This year, Jahn also unveiled plans for 1000 S. Michigan, an 832-foot South Loop tower across from Grant Park that would house apartments and condominium. 

Jahn, a German-born architect, leads JAHN with company partner Francisco Gonzalez-Pulido. Representatives for JAHN did not return calls Thursday. 

A current view of the 1210 W. Lake St. building. [R2 Companies]

To allow for the expanded office use on Lake Street, R2 Companies seeks to rezone the property from M2-3, Light Industry District, to DS-5, Downtown Service District. 

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) said Wednesday he will support the zoning change.  

Two Chicago real estate firms, R2 and Marc Realty Capital, bought the Lake Street building for $2.1 million in summer 2015, according to Crain's Chicago Business. The building previously served as homebase for mechanics and artists. 

A building at 1210 W. Lake St. could house world-renowned architect Helmet Jahn's future offices. [Bugaj Architects]

A rendering of R2's interior plans for the 1210 W. Lake St. building. [Bugaj Architects]

A rendering of R2's interior plans for the 1210 W. Lake St. building. [Bugaj Architects]

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