Gucci decided to expand its presence in the 900 North Michigan Shops, on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The luxury fashion retailer wanted to add a second level and incorporate two smaller, ground-floor spaces into its new flagship store. Gucci had a distinctive vision for the expanded façade and needed to meet a tight timeframe that required complex work in the middle of winter. Acting as the owner’s representative, DMA supported the timely delivery of additional building space to Gucci. DMA also coordinated with ownership, the tenant, and the larger project team to resolve design issues, assist with municipal reviews and schedule and manage work without disrupting nearby tenants, including an operating health club and beauty spa.
The project affected two sides of the building’s exterior. Work involved "peeling the skin" off—removing granite cladding, concrete masonry wall, windows and even cutting back the edge of floor slabs—to allow for the two-story, recessed tenant façade. The new curtain wall look consists of multicolored, fluted spandrel glass and mirror-finished framing. Gucci remained open throughout the transformation.