Here is a rendering of R+D659, a striking new condo high-rise designed by Brininstool+Lynch. The 15-story West Loop building, from developer Mesirow Financial Real Estate, aims for a hip and contemporary vibe, as you can see from the cantilevered balconies, and as you can tell by the name of the place. The project, pronounced ‘R and D 659’ is located at 659 W Randolph St, at Desplaines Street.
The balconies will be built from perforated metal and opaque glass, in order to maximise the available light in the units. Other modern touches include eucalyptus floors and honed granite countertops.
The 237 one- to three-bedroom condos are priced from the $220s to the $850s.
But we should get back to the development’s name, which is perhaps the most useful feature of all. Just think: as taxi drivers become familiar with this place, homeowners will be able to mumble that they live at “R&D” before passing out on the back seat of the cab, late on a Saturday night.