Aviation Lofts, 1340 S Michigan Ave, South Loop

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Aviation Lofts is a 7-story, 49-unit apartment building in the South Loop. A Giordano’s restaurant occupies the ground-level retail space.

The Neoclassical-style building was built in 1922 for the Interior Furniture Company and served as both a showroom and a warehouse. During later years it was the home of the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical University, hence its current name, and Cook County’s Domestic Violence Courthouse. The building’s distinctive terra cotta façade and its rich history landed it a slot on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building was converted to luxury loft apartments in 2014.

The lofts

Aviation Lofts offers seven different one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den and two-bedroom floor plans. Floor plans are accessible online.

All of the apartments have individual heating and air-conditioning, wide plank flooring throughout, 12-foot ceiling heights, ample closet space and in-unit washer / dryers. Six of the seven plans have a balcony. Vertical sound transmission is minimized by deep concrete floors, a remnant of the building’s history as a warehouse.


Kitchens include gas ranges, 42-inch cabinets, quartz counter tops, custom tile backsplashes and a stainless appliance package. The oversized baths have large vanities, and the master bath in two-bedroom plans has a dual-bowl vanity.

The bedrooms in several of the plans have borrowed light and no windows.

Views. Almost all of the units at Aviation Lofts have good panoramic views to the north.

Amenities, services, policies

Aviation Lofts has limited common-area amenities.

Aviation Lofts has a stylish entrance lobby and elevator lobby.

The building is cat-friendly, but does not allow dogs. Parking is available in an on-site garage.

The location

Aviation Lofts has an attractive South Loop location a block-and-a-half from the south end of Grant Park.

The location affords residents quick access to shopping, dining, the Museum Campus, the Loop, McCormick Place and a number of local universities.

Shopping. Residents at Aviation Lofts have good access to grocery shopping.

For convenience shopping and specialty items, there’s a GoGrocer at the north end of the block.

Trader Joe’s and Jewel-Osco are a short walk from Aviation Lofts on Roosevelt Rd at Wabash.

Target and Whole Foods are a bit further west along Roosevelt Rd, and a new Mariano’s recently opened on Clark St a few blocks southwest. There are full-service pharmacies in the Jewel and Target, and a Walgreens is two short blocks west on Roosevelt Rd.

The South Loop has long had a rap as being under-retailed, but that’s changing as the Shops at Roosevelt Collection fills its space. There’s also a large and growing cluster of big-box shops just west of the river along Roosevelt Rd, and State Street shops and Magnificent Mile shops are a few minutes’ away.

Dining, nightlife.
There are scores of dining and nightlife options within a few blocks’ walk of Aviation Lofts, and their number is growing.

There’s a popular Giordano’s in the ground-level retail space at Aviation Lofts.

Long-time local favorite Gioco is just over a block from the building.


Breakfast options are abundant, but you can expect a weekend wait at the nearby Waffles, Bongo Room, Eleven City Diner and Yolk. Head a block east to the friendly Little Branch Café and avoid the crowds.


Sandwich lovers are a few minutes’ walk – or less – from Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s, Potbelly and Five Guys.

Square One is a few doors south of Aviation Lofts.


Blues lovers can head a few blocks north to Buddy Guy’s Legends. Sports enthusiasts can grab a donut and wash it down with a brew at Wabash Tap, a neighborhood hangout.


The Showplace Icon theaters at Roosevelt Collection is one of the few first-run movie venues in downtown Chicago. The lounge bar gets busy in the evening and has food available.

Parks, recreation. Aviation Lofts has Grant Park just over a block away.

Spanning nearly half a square mile, the 319-acre park accommodates a wide range of active recreational pursuits and spots for quiet contemplation.


Millennium Park, at the North end of Grant Park, is one of the most exciting and architecturally interesting public spaces in the country. Residents of Aviation Lofts will pass the Art Institute on the way to Millennium Park.

Northerly Island’s 12th Street Beach is a short bike ride from Aviation Lofts.

Transportation. Public transportation from the location is excellent.

The CTA’s Roosevelt Road station has Red, Green and Orange Line stops for easy access to north, south and west side locations and to Midway Airport.

A wide variety of CTA bus routes criss-cross the area, with stops near the building.

Taxi service is near-instantaneous at the front door. Zipcars and DIVVY bikes are available nearby.

I-90/94 and I-290 can generally be reached within a few minutes.

The competition

You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s comprehensive South Loop apartment guide.

Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby loft condo buildings.

Share your take on Aviation Lofts

If you’ve lived at or visited Aviation Lofts, and are not a real estate agent, add your thoughts in a comment. Comments are moderated, and commercial messages are not allowed.

Aviation Lofts

Address 1340 S Michigan Ave
City Chicago
# of Units 49
Pets Cats only.
Parking On-site garage.
Completed 1922 / 201
Website Aviation Lofts

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