By Dana Dubriwny
Driving south along Lake Shore Drive, commuters travel through a landscape of varying architectural quality.
Execs at Kargil Development LLC determined to improve that landscape with X/O Condominiums at 1700 S Prairie Ave. The $300 million project will comprise 271 condominiums in the north tower, 215 units in the south tower, and a row of 10 townhomes fronting the development. In February, 40 percent of the condos had been pre-sold, and buyers can expect occupancy in 2010.
“We saw the market was changing; the go-go days were coming to an end, and we wanted to differentiate ourselves, so we started with the architecture of it,” says Brian Giles, vice president of Kargil Development. “The South Loop has become the busiest and biggest market in the city. To sell these units, we needed something different, so we gave Lucien the ability to do his best work.”
Lucien Lagrange, known for his designs of the Pinnacle, Elysian Hotel and Residences, and Ritz-Carlton Residences, sketched up two contemporary glass high-rises. According to Lagrange, his vision for shaping X/O was to create an attraction and tension between the 46-story north tower and 34-story south tower, which was executed with floor plates incrementally increasing and decreasing in size.
The stunning design has drawn lavish praise and even a little criticism, but Kargill surmounted all the obstacles in the project’s path, and X/O is moving forward to break ground this spring.
Beyond the architecturally unique composition of the project, X/O offers amenities that are cutting-edge for the Chicago market. A separate 13,000-square-foot lifestyle center known as Spa X/O will feature a swimming pool, aqua grotto with cascading waterfalls, misting park and social sauna. The center, managed by New York-based American Leisure Corp., will have a fitness spa and sunbathing deck, massage therapy, classes, and personal training sessions.
The units, priced in February from the $300s to more than $2 million, will benefit from environmentally friendly construction and feature granite and marble countertops, porcelain tile in the bathrooms, European-style cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances in the kitchens. The standard appliance package includes a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, 30-inch professional gas range, over-range microwave, dishwasher, and a double-bowl under mount sink with a polished chrome faucet. Residences on upper floors feature upgraded finishes with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances and natural stone bathrooms.
Landscape architect Ernie Wong designed a 10,000-square-foot botanic park for a two-acre site along Prairie Avenue. The X/O sales office, located at 1712 S Prairie Ave, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.