The Marquee shows French influence

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The Marquee, a 25-story tower planned by Sedgwick Properties in the South Loop, might look at home in the Gold Coast or amidst the historic buildings across from Millennium Park, but the developer argues that it also will fit its context, at 1454 S. Michigan Ave., in the South Loop.

“Even though we’re kind of past the park we tried to replicate the same traditional style of those older buildings,” said Marty Paris, president of Sedgwick Properties Development Corporation, which is both developer and architect for the project. This is after all, a historic spot. The Marquee will sit rise adjacent to the Buick Building in the historic Motor Row District. The developer has agreed to save the Buick Building, which will be rehabbed for retail space.

Paris said Sedgwick tried to combine the most popular elements of Chicago architecture in the Marquee, using architectural concrete and copious glass. Bay windows frame a row of balconies that will run up the center of the building, and the corners of the structure will be punctuated with more bay-like balconies. The placement of the balconies and various horizontal details will deemphasize the more contemporary vertical lines of the building, which will be capped with a mansard roof.

The Marquee’s 223 units have one to three bedrooms and one to three baths. Units feature hardwood floors, natural stone flooring in bathrooms, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Berber carpet in bedrooms and painted wood panel doors with chrome hardware. Prices range from the $200s to the $790s.

Building amenities include a private theater, a green rooftop with a dog run, an exercise room, a bike room, a doorman and parking for $29,900 per spot. The building will overlook the lake and downtown Chicago.

Paris said the Marquee’s proximity to the Loop, the Museum campus, Soldier Field and Millennium Park will make it convenient and attractive to buyers. In his opinion, the South Loop, home to a spate of new highrise developments, has arrived. “The neighborhood is really coming into its own,” Paris said. “It’s hit the critical mass where it’s become a vibrant neighborhood.”

Demolition on site is scheduled to begin in October for the Marquee, www.MarqueeChicago.com, and first occupancy is expected by late 2007.

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