Focus completes best-in-class Fulton Market office tower

The newest Fulton Market office tower is complete and experiencing unparalleled leasing activity.

167 Green, a best-in-class asset within the heart of Fulton Market was completed in early 2021 and has set the mark for office leasing in a post-covid market. Companies like CCC Information Technologies, Kroll and Foxtrot are just a few of the key tenants calling 167 Green home.

“We are thrilled with the success at 167 Green thus far,” said Focus Senior Vice President, Development, Justin Pelej. “We expect the building to continue to outperform other available product in the Loop and River North, in part because of its unique position in Fulton Market, but also due to the unparalleled amenities .”

Located just steps from the Lake and Morgan CTA stations, the Gensler designed office tower totals over 750,000 GSF and features floorplates of over 46,000 SF. The entire 17^th floor has been set aside for the building’s shared amenities and houses a club level fitness facility, lounge, and hotel style rooftop terrace. The 17^th floor also features a townhall space which doubles as a full-size basketball court where tenants can host major events or compete in the office basketball league.

167 Green also creates new public space in a neighborhood that lacks it. The Mews, a pedestrian connection between Lake and Halsted Streets functions as a public art and gathering space. The double high walkway features a reflective gold Kloeckner metal ceiling which mirrors the bustle of the streets and foot traffic beneath. Future restaurant and retail tenants will soon open their doors and new art installations will rotate in and out of the space for years to come.

Led by Focus Senior Development Manager, Courtney Brower and Senior Project Manager Joe Vartanian, construction took just under 24 months to complete and faced its fair share of challenges due to the impacts of Covid-19. The pandemic began just as teams were focused on the interior build-out of the project and required that teams adjust quickly to ensure that operations could continue safely.

Additionally, the project had several unique features that required careful coordination like the 48’ tall, low iron cantilevered glass fin wall system, the tallest in North America. The system, which acts as a diaphragm to meet the win load requirements for the building weighs 2,900 lb. and had to be dead loaded to the structure above. Another distinctive spec of the building, the custom VRF HVAC system which was designed and built for 167 Green. The system enables higher control and separation of the climate and airflow between spaces. Not only was this feature developed for the building as way to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency, but it has the added benefit of increasing tenant comfort and sanitation which is key in a post-covid environment. 167 Green is the first large-scale office building to utilize such a system in Chicago.

The Focus construction team also included:

• Assistant Project Manager, Alberto Gomez
• Lead Superintendent, Mark O’Dette
• Superintendents, Casey Armbrust and Rich Czarnik

Having delivered over 4,000 multifamily units to Chicagoland since 1993, 167 Green is the first office tower by the firm. The attention to design, emphasis on placemaking and user-focused approach at 167 Green are however, consistent across the portfolio and reflect the company’s dedication to build value and enhance community.

“The context and needs of a particular community come first in our approach to real estate development,” said Focus CEO, Tim Anderson. “By listening and responding to the needs of the neighborhood, we have been successful in delivering impactful real estate that helps people to experience a better life.”

To learn more about Focus’ role at 167 Green or to discuss our 25-years of CRE experience, reach out today.