Historic Pittsfield Building to Add Observatory as City Council Greenlights 60 Million Loop ConversionBy Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/The Loop ·
The Chicago City Council has approved an ambitious redevelopment of the historic Pittsfield Building at 55 E. Washington Street, transforming more vacant office space into 214 new apartments with 43 units designated as affordable housing. The project, planned by investor Thomas Liravongsa and designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, will add to the 228 apartments already in the building, creating a significant residential presence in the heart of The Loop.
The most striking feature of the
60 million redevelopment will be a new public observatory in the building's crown, spanning the uppermost four floors with multiple viewing levels, an outdoor terrace, and a cafe/bar for visitors. The project will also address long-standing maintenance issues, including repairing the facade and removing scaffolding that has surrounded the building at Washington and Wabash for about a decade. This transformation represents a vital step in revitalizing downtown Chicago, adding more residential life to The Loop beyond standard business hours. As one commenter noted about the project, "It will add more life to downtown after 5pm when the day workers are gone."Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 with completion targeted for late 2027. When finished, the Pittsfield Building conversion will mark another significant milestone in The Loop's ongoing transition toward a more residential-friendly urban core, addressing Chicago's increasing demand for downtown housing while preserving a key piece of the city's architectural history. Visit this iconic art deco landmark this weekend to witness the beginning of its exciting transformation!
Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/plan-commission-approves-pittsfield-building-redevelopment
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/25/plan-to-convert-pittsfield-building-offices-into-apartments-gets-city-council-ok/
3. https://chicagoyimby.com/2025/09/office-to-residential-conversion-of-pittsfield-building-approved-by-plan-commission.html
4. https://blog.databid.com/blog/pittsfield-building-residential-conversion
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/The Loop ·
The Chicago City Council has approved an ambitious redevelopment of the historic Pittsfield Building at 55 E. Washington Street, transforming more vacant office space into 214 new apartments with 43 units designated as affordable housing. The project, planned by investor Thomas Liravongsa and designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, will add to the 228 apartments already in the building, creating a significant residential presence in the heart of The Loop.
The most striking feature of the
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 with completion targeted for late 2027. When finished, the Pittsfield Building conversion will mark another significant milestone in The Loop's ongoing transition toward a more residential-friendly urban core, addressing Chicago's increasing demand for downtown housing while preserving a key piece of the city's architectural history. Visit this iconic art deco landmark this weekend to witness the beginning of its exciting transformation!
Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/plan-commission-approves-pittsfield-building-redevelopment
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/25/plan-to-convert-pittsfield-building-offices-into-apartments-gets-city-council-ok/
3. https://chicagoyimby.com/2025/09/office-to-residential-conversion-of-pittsfield-building-approved-by-plan-commission.html
4. https://blog.databid.com/blog/pittsfield-building-residential-conversion