A LOOK AT ALL THAT HAPPENED OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS
3,243 [ UNVERIFIED ]
BOWLING PINS KNOCKED DOWN DURING THIS YEARS ANNUAL FALL BOWLING OUTING
32
ND
BEST PLACE TO WORK IN CHICAGO BY TOPPED OUT THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX CHAMPAGNE TOASTS NEW HIRES
5 PROJECTS COMPLETED
8 PROJECTS STARTED
2
CELEBRATING FAMILIES MOVING INTO THEIR NEW LG HOMES CLOSED
$100,000,000+ CONSTRUCTION LOAN
5 NEW RETAIL TENANTS
TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON NEW HIGH RISE IN NASHVILLE
QUARTERLY FIELD REPORT
Welcome to our newsletter, where we offer a peek into the dynamic world of LG Group. We’re excited to share recent happenings worthy of celebration with our employees, friends, family, and industry colleagues.
Within these pages, you’ll find a snapshot of the diverse range of activities we’re involved in. In real estate development, we’re actively engaged in exciting new projects that push boundaries and aim to elevate urban living. Our construction team is taking on challenging and exciting projects across a large variety of market sectors. Simultaneously, our design team is crafting solutions that blend beauty with practicality. Our marketing efforts are propelling our brand and projects to new heights.
This newsletter showcases our commitment to progress and excellence. We’re eager to highlight LG Group’s innovations and achievements.
BRIAN GOLDBERG Founder & CEO
IN THIS ISSUE
COMPANY UPDATE | 03 GROUP HIGHLIGHTS
See what our development, construction, and design companies have been up to as we shine a spotlight on the events that grabbed our attention this quarter.
PROJECT FEATURE | 05 HUGO APARTMENTS
Witness a bold vision for urban living emerge in Chicago’s vibrant River North district, at the intersection of Chicago and Hudson Avenues.
PROJECT FEATURE | 13 ARTHUR ON ABERDEEN
Experience the intersection of industrial heritage and elevated design in Chicago’s Fulton Market, where a historic building sets the stage for a fresh vision of hospitality-driven living.
PROJECT FEATURE | 23 LAYERED LIFE IN NEUTRALS
Discover classic elegance harmoniously meeting modern craftsmanship in this newly completed Park Ridge home.
PROJECT FEATURE | 29 A LIVING, BREATHING ECOSYSTEM
A building as unique as the businesses that occupy it gets its debut moment as we reveal this project that was nearly seven years in the making.
PROJECT FEATURE | 47 BRANDED SPACES
See how creative team builds brands with soul, weaving narratives into every corner through thoughtful integration of brand strategy and interior design.
ARTIST SERIES | 51 LIZ FLORES
Go beyond the canvas with Chicago-based painter and muralist, Liz Flores, for an inside look into her process, vision and collaboration with LG Group.
PEOPLE + CULTURE | 57 CANCER IS EVERYONE”S BUSINESS
Join us as we shine a spotlight on the incredible work Culinary Care is doing and highlight our team’s effort in this year’s Corporate Cook-Off.
lgCONNECT | 59 LG HOMES BROKER OPEN
Empowering Brokers: Insights and Tools from the Luxury Builder, Architecture, and Designer Worlds
GROUP HIGHLIGHTS
DEVELOP | BUILD | DESIGN
LG GROUP RANKED 32ND BEST PLACE TO WORK IN CHICAGO
LG Group was named the 32nd Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain’s recognizing the incredible culture established within our walls and the impact it has outside them.
SOL, PHOENIX REACHES THE TOP
The LG Development team celebrated this incredible project milestone with ceremonies held in both Phoenix and Chicago amongst partners bKL Architecture and Layton.
BOTTEGA VENETA FLAGSHIP NEARS COMPLETION
LG Builders reaches the home stretch of this two-story stone clad flagship store for the iconic fashion house with doors set to open in time for the holiday shopping season.
US BANK MOVES INTO THEIR NEW NASHVILLE BRANCH LOCATION
LG Builders wrapped construction and LG Development facilitated the relocation of US Bank into their new home clearing the way for LG Development’s next high-rise project.
MEREL LAW OFFICE OPENS ITS DOORS TO EMPLOYEES
This design-build collaboration between our construction and design teams culminated with a grand opening party for employees and friends of the firm.
WOLF & CO COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION
Our development, design, and construction teams kicked off what will be a trail altering addition to The 606 in the Logan Square neighborhood.
LEFT A
TOP LEFT The Best Place to Work Award from Crain’s takes pride of place at LG Group’s headquarters.
TOP RIGHT Construction cranes soar above SOL, LG Group’s development at 601 Central in Phoenix.
MIDDLE
rendering reveals the main bar, part of a multi-concept space at Wolf & Co., an LG Design + Builders project in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood.
BOTTOM LEFT The LG Homes team puts the finishing touches on a new luxury residence ahead of move-in day.
LG BUILDERS IMPLEMENTS PULL PLANNING
Our construction team begins a multi-step implementation process to bring Pull Planing to our construction management approach.
LG HOMES TOASTS THE COMPLETION OF TWO NEW RESIDENCES
We welcomed clients and their families into their newly completed homes in Lincoln Park and Lakeview this summer, showcasing the dedication of this talented team.
TOP Sticky notes are used to display scheduled work for each trade during a recent pull planning session.
MIDDLE The entry to the newly completed Merel Family Law office.
BOTTOM The newly completed US Bank location in Nashville.
HUDSON HUDSO HUDS HUD HU GO
CHICAGO HICAGO ICAGO CAGO AGO
In Chicago's vibrant River North district, at the intersection of Chicago and Hudson Avenues—from which the name HUGO is cleverly derived—a bold vision for urban living emerges from a unique cityscape. HUGO's distinctive twin buildings rise as a creative response to the site's natural divide. LG Group transformed this architectural challenge into an opportunity, designing two complementary structures that offer a fresh perspective on city life.
Each building embraces its own distinct personality while sharing a unified mission: to redefine how Chicagoans experience home in one of the city's most coveted neighborhoods.
757 N HUDSON RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO
“With HUGO, we do not have the traditional high-rise window wall system that you commonly see around the market. The property also incorporates nice metal panel façade systems, brick features and window systems, as well as a large quantity of outdoor areas. In fact, with the unit balconies, we have more outdoor space on a per unit basis than any building in this market. These distinctive design choices set HUGO apart from other downtown residential developments.
MATT WILKE
COO + Partner
LG Group
BUILDING TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
LG Group’s Matt Wilke and NORR’s George Sorich discuss the process, challenges and triumphs in their collaboration to construct HUGO, the new residential crown jewel of River North
When LG Group and trusted long-term partner, architecture and engineering firm, NORR, began work on their major new two-building residential project in 2021, the inherent challenges in planning a development located in Chicago’s dynamic River North neighborhood were further complicated by timing that coincided with the post-pandemic era.
“Coming out of Covid, we had to think about how people were living differently, and we had to pivot,” George Sorich, NORR’s Vice President, Residential, North America, recalled. “What residents need in this new, post-Covid environment made us rethink what it means to live, play and relax.”
He continued: “To do that – not only in terms of the planning aspect and finishes – there were sustainability issues [that we had to consider], as well as needing to provide National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certification, which wasn’t originally embedded into the building.”
LG Group’s Chief Operations Officer & Partner, Matt Wilke, flagged that costs were also a major consideration during that delicate period, which required thoughtfully innovative and streamlined approaches across the board.
“We built this project through a very inflationary environment,” he shared.
“Because both [LG Group’s construction and design] teams were working under one roof, we were able to really collaborate, problemsolve and expedite decision-making. That limited our cost and subcontractor manpower issues as a team, versus a traditional marketplace team.”
Despite a planning process rife with hurdles, LG Group and NORR created two beautiful residential buildings constructed on what were previously asphalt parking lots. Together, the partners ensured that the entire property reflected Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development’s Design Excellence initiatives, contributing to a high-quality built environment that celebrates and enhances the city’s unique architectural and urban design legacy.
“It’s two separate buildings that act as one asset. I think it’s unique that it was [intentionally] designed that way,” Wilke recalls. “[That said,] it made it a little challenging [for] the construction. We had one tower crane for both buildings, which was one of the first times that’s happened in the city. As a result, though, you have this kind of organic relationship between both buildings.”
Collectively, the finished result is known as the luxury residential development, HUGO.
Located at 751 N Hudson Avenue and 411 W Chicago Avenue, the property’s name is a portmanteau of “Hudson” and “Chicago,” in a nod to the intersecting location of its two 10-story buildings that are nearly adjacent to one another.
Separated by an existing low-rise masonry building, the 93-unit structure at 411 W. Chicago Avenue features a similar facade, rising just to the east of the 134-apartment complex at 751 N. Hudson, which is clad in metal panels.
The complementary yet contrasting design creates a unique offering for downtown residents.
“We have two different products within one development that we can offer,” Sorich highlights. “Both buildings are contemporary. We have the North Hudson Avenue building utilizing this kind of metal skin, and then we have the West Chicago Avenue] building featuring masonry throughout.”
These varied facade elements work in concert with undulations and setbacks that respond to the various functions and apartment unit-types within the property. Most of HUGO’s 227 high-end units have exterior balconies with a mix of masonry, metal, glass and plaster cladding materials, reflecting the architecture of the Chicago Avenue corridor.
An integrated development that is a driver of both capacity and density in River North while embodying the epitome of luxury apartment design, the vision for HUGO was to create a live-work-shop environment in a desirable location with tiered floor plans where residents can put down roots as they grow and their lives evolve.
“We’re creating a home for people in an urban environment,” Sorich states.
“While the 751 N Hudson Avenue units are a little bit smaller than those at 411 W Chicago Avenue, it allows tenants to really be able to scale-up and stay within the neighborhood.”
Part of establishing that sense of community was delivering a mix of high-end amenities and street-level retail to complement the growing business area and community made up of art galleries, vibrant nightlife and upscale restaurants – all of which reinforce that HUGO has something special to offer every resident.
All told, the development’s podium deck is comprised of 18,867 SF of ground floor retail space, below-grade parking spaces, bike storage, a loading berth and required mechanical services, with multiple residential floors on top of the structure.
The residential space in each building features impressively holistic programming, with components including state-ofthe-art fitness centers, multiple amenity terraces, outdoor kitchens, cabanas, fire pits, a dog run, bike rooms, tenant storage and conference rooms with breakout work pods for those who want to both work and play from the convenience of their home.
Specifically, 751 N Hudson Avenue also features a meticulously landscaped 2nd floor pool deck with cabanas, fire pits and an outdoor kitchen with multiple grills, as well as a 10th floor amenity deck with unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline.
Offering a different vantage point, 411 W Chicago Avenue touts an extra large sun deck with immaculate landscaping, lounge chairs, an outdoor kitchen with multiple grills, as well as its own 10th floor amenity deck with eastern views of the Gold Coast skyline.
Putting a finer point on these collective cross-building offerings, Wilke succinctly sums up the value proposition for residents: “We have double the amenities, if you think about it: two fitness rooms, two rooftop patios and huge outdoor terraces landscaped to the brim to bring it all together and create a lot of unique spaces.”
With the best of Chicago from every angle, inside and out, HUGO is truly a place to call home.
PROJECT FEATURE
ARTHUR ON ABERDEEN
At the intersection of industrial heritage and ultramodern luxury, Arthur on Aberdeen stands as a masterpiece of adaptive reuse in Chicago’s vibrant Fulton Market. The 19-story development thoughtfully preserves and celebrates the century-old Arthur Harris building—a historic bow truss structure with soaring 35-foot ceilings—integrating it into the design while pulling inspiration from its industrial character to create a bold new vision of hospitality-focused residential living, where vintage industrial charm meets contemporary sophistication through unexpected pops of color, tactile artwork, and thoughtfully curated spaces.
FULTON MARKET, CHICAGO LOCATION
LG DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPER
ARCHITECTS
DESIGN
DESIGNED FOR LIVING HISTORY
LG Group and NORR joined forces to repurpose the historic, century-old Arthur Harris building in Fulton Market as the centerpiece of a new ultramodern adaptive mixed-use multifamily residential development, Arthur on Aberdeen
At the end of the day, residents of Arthur on Aberdeen come home to a masterpiece.
A hospitality-focused luxury rental residence designed for those with uncompromising taste, this 19-story, 420,000 square foot mixed-use multifamily project with architecture from NORR and interiors by LG Design located in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood reinvents the concept of ultramodern living.
But the road to achieving this elevated end result was punctuated by turns that required expert assessment and thoughtful action throughout.
The intricately designed development was centered around the Arthur Harris building, which was home to a steel float manufacturing company that had been in operation since 1904. Occupying an irregularly shaped site that reaches to N May Street to the west and down to W Lake Street to the south, the historic bow truss building encompassing 35’ ceilings from the turn of the century with a vintage feel could not be replicated. With the city deeming portions of the building as contributing to the historic character of the neighborhood, LG Group and NORR were required to incorporate it at the ground floor level.
This integration alone called for specialized strategic solutions to solve for issues inherent in construction within and around a building that is over a century old. An initial priority was refurbishing the landmarked warehouse and incorporating it into the final design. However, with the existing building’s shape resulting in incongruent floor plates, it was critical that all design elements were optimized to offset the inefficient layout.
It was also apparent that much of the existing wood structure in the building would need to be replaced, while still maintaining it as a core part of the building’s then-meets-now aesthetic. This required extensive work, including the removal of existing trusses reinforced with steel and placing them back in their original location.
Additionally, the surrounding power lines on the east and west sides of the site also had to be temporarily relocated to allow for crane erection and safe working conditions. The south side of the site, abutting the elevated Chicago’s L train tracks, also required notable coordination, with proximity to the rail informing sensitive treatment of window and wall details to minimize acoustic issues.
Finally, with the neighboring buildings to the west and south built up to the property line, alignment with their foundation design was required to ensure that Arthur on Aberdeen would not adversely impact the structures.
Despite these intricate initial steps, the team was energized by the challenge and focused on the exciting end result.
“We love adaptive reuse,” George Sorich, NORR’s Vice President, Residential, North America, enthused. “The Arthur Harris building now belongs to all of us. Whereas before, it was a manufacturing building where only a limited amount of people could access it, it now belongs to the neighborhood; it belongs to the city. We can all come in and enjoy that building.”
To wit, the front façade has a retail storefront inserted and the entire building is dedicated to retail space, featuring warmtoned brick with iron spotting that instantly evokes a sense of continuity with the area’s original edgy aesthetic, while complimenting the building’s updated, sleek design.
As part of the expansion plan, LG Group and NORR joined the original building with a new 18-story residential tower containing 363 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. The old and new buildings were linked by a glass connector with a three-story podium with retail space, and the residential lobby is set back from the Arthur Harris building with a small plaza to create relief at the sidewalk. The tower itself is also set back and has thinner massing, creating a stepped form horizontally. When it came to translating this dynamic look and feel to Arthur on Aberdeen’s interiors, LG Design found inspiration in the building’s original functionality.
“The design vision was really driven by an early site visit,” LG Group’s Creative Director, Luke Roberts, recalled. “We went there when the building was still active, so we saw everyone working in a very raw and industrial space. All the equipment was pops of bright color – so there’s a bright orange machine, uniforms in blue, a lot of safety signage – and I think that tension and contrast was what became the big driver for this space.”
He continued: “When we translated that into the design and tried to figure out the story we wanted to tell, [the question] was, ‘How do we pay homage to this site and to that legacy, and also make it relevant for today’s Fulton Market?’”
The team achieved this by incorporating design references with a nod to Fulton Market’s hospitality boom by emulating the essence of an upscale boutique hotel. Striking a delicate balance between heritage-focused visual storytelling and natural neutrality, raw elements such as stainless steel, concrete and wood that harken to the West Loop’s industrial roots combine with an inviting 1970s color palette, striking art pieces and unexpected textural finishes to redefine what’s possible for the design of a multifamily project.
“This project is not afraid to have a point of view. It’s strong, it’s bold; we wanted it to feel in line with a hotel or restaurant that this resident is going to spend their time at,” Roberts stated. “The colors are not timid, the artwork is very tactile; we didn’t want anything to feel overly precious. We thought that it felt ‘of the neighborhood.’ Things are alive there, and we wanted the building to feel that way.”
Sorich adds, “It is a bit of a retro-looking building on the interior, not in the traditional way you might think of retro. It has a lovely feel and quality to it.”
This considered approach to design was extended to the project’s two floors of thoughtfully curated amenity spaces with quality furnishings that not only cater to residents’ specific needs, but foster a sense of connectivity and belonging.
The second floor is home to a resident lounge overlooking the residential entry and Arthur Harris building to the north, and co-working space tucked back into the floor plate offering podcast rooms and meeting spaces. It also features a large fitness center with HIIT space, which is visually anchored by eye-catching custom mural artwork by local Latina Chicago artist, Liz Flores, that was commissioned exclusively for the property.
Moving up to the amenity space on the 18th floor, the east-facing outdoor deck features sweeping views of downtown Chicago with a grilling station, seating and fire pits for convenience and comfort. A library, catering kitchen and private dining room are located adjacent to the outdoor deck at the south end of the building, and an expansive resident lounge at the center of the roof plan stretches over to the next outdoor deck, which includes a hot tub area and full pool deck on the western end of the roof. Cabanas, lounge chairs and outdoor restrooms are provided for residents using the pool, which also features another mural by Liz Flores created specifically for the space.
“The amount of amenity space that we have [offers] different types of outdoor/indoor environments, and those environments sort of speak to each other,” Sorich notes.
With all of this taken together, Arthur on Aberdeen boldly bends the standard approaches to multifamily development design and programming, which makes it a project that the partners are particularly enthusiastic about.
“Ultimately, the success of the project is a resident being proud to live there – being excited about it, wanting to show it off,” Roberts said. “I think if somebody feels comfortable there, and is excited to live there, then we’ve done our job.”
Sorich is equally as sanguine. “There are a lot of different ways to measure the success of a project. There are certainly the financial aspects, but Arthur on Aberdeen has really become part of the neighborhood, part of the community. So, I find that to be a huge success.”
PROJECT FEATURE
LAYERED LIFE IN NEUTRALS
In this Park Ridge home, classic elegance meets modern craftsmanship through a harmonious blend of rich wood floors, crisp white millwork, and brass and glass accents. The great room, with its towering ceilings, sets the tone for a space where thoughtful layering of textures—from smooth marble surfaces to woven textiles and burnished metals— brings depth to a sophisticated neutral palette. Each carefully curated detail creates moments of intrigue while maintaining the home’s serene and timeless atmosphere, showcasing the perfect balance of beauty and artistry that defines this remarkable residence.
This project was a great testament to the power of a cohesive team. The communication between client, builder, architect and designer felt seamless at all times and it’s really evident in the execution of the project.
Given how clean the aesthetic of the home is, every single detail was imperative to nail. Designing someone’s personal home takes on a unique level of trust and it was rewarding to see the outcome be so successful.
CAREY ELDER Carey Elder Design
A LIVING, BREATHING ECOSYSTEM
1516 W CARROLL AVE FULTON MARKET, CHICAGO
It’s what’s on the inside and top of this building that counts.
The ordinary looking brown building sits at 1516 W. Carroll in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, a small pocket of Chicago’s West Town.
But it’s actually extraordinarily green with three self-proclaimed “sustainably obsessed” businesses.
“It’s a living, breathing ecosystem between all of the businesses together in the one location,” said Tracy Boychuk, the founder of The Roof Crop.
Hence the name, The Roof Crop is located at the tippy top of the building.
The green roof growing company is currently cultivating more than a dozen other rooftop gardens in the city.
“Green roofs themselves are really beneficial in terms of climate mitigation and the heat island effect that we have in urban environments,” said Boychuk. “I like to say if every building in the West Loop had a green roof on it like this, the temperature in this neighborhood would change significantly. It would be 20 degrees less hot every summer.”
Each summer, The Roof Crop or TRC as Boychuk calls it, will be blooming with flowers and sprouting with vegetables and a variety of plants.
“Everything that we plant, we have more than one use for. So if it’s not used fresh, it can be used dried, it can be used repurposed,” said Boychuk. “The food that’s grown up here goes all down to Maxwells Trading, which is the restaurant entity downstairs.
Maxwells Trading is headed up by Underscore Hospitality partners Chef Erling Wu-Bauer and Josh Tilden.
“Right now turnips are on the menu,” said Boychuk. “The chefs are using the turnip greens but if we end up having too many turnip greens, Adam’s already talking about experimenting with dehydrating those and using them in a dog treat.”
Adam Moore is the founder of Flashpoint Innovation, a food beverage consultancy on the second floor.
“We’re grounded in trying to make an impactful change within sustainability across the national and global food service industry,” said Moore.
Flashpoint finds creative ways for Maxwells Trading and other restaurants to repurpose leftover ingredients and keep them from ending up in the trashcan.
Moore used some leftover beer that he created into a vinegar as an example. “What we do is use that in a recipe, for example, to inspire a restaurant on other ways to use beer other than drink it,” he said.
“I think the fact that the three businesses are very different and have their own client bases and also their own purposes, allow us to inform each other in how to do things differently or better, but also allows us to use things that one of them couldn’t use,” said Boychuk.
On the first floor of the building is The Roof Crop’s apothecary and flower studio called “Third Season” where you can buy everything from a coffee to naturally dyed yarns.
“It’s a great place to come in and see what we’re experimenting with. We’re taking kitchen waste like onion skins and avocado pits, and we’re doing natural dyes in our natural dye program, you know, so we’re also growing natural dyes,” said Boychuk.
And as the building continues to grow together, Boychuk said she hopes they can serve as an example for developers.
Words: ABC News Chicago Photography: Daniel Kelleghan
In 2016, LG Builders completed the first major renovation of 1516 W Carroll transforming the existing two-story brick office building and warehouse into the headquarters for The Roof Crop, Omni Ecosystems, and Runner Collective with additional space dedicated to the notfor-profits Pilot Light and Urban Habitat Chicago.
The driving force behind the original project was the installation of the innovative Omni Meadow Mix over the warehouse, creating a first-of-its-kind urban rooftop farm.
This recent project expanded on the first and became a complete reimagining of the building. The core of this project included a complete demolition of the building to the existing shell, the addition of a full second floor and accessible rooftop using a steel and precast plank structure system, and the installation of greenhouses on the rooftop to expand on the urban farm operation.
COVER The sprawling, urban-chic dining room of Maxwells Trading is both homey and sophisticated.
LEFT PAGE One of three green houses located on the rooftop supplement the outdoor farming program and can be booked for private dinners.
TOP A peak inside The Roof Crop offices and view of the conference room which serves as a flexible space within the building.
BOTTOM Third Season by The Roof Crop is a coffee shop, apothecary, and floral studio located on the ground floor offering dried tea blends, flavored honeys, and floral arrangements all sourced from the urban farms operated by The Roof Crop.
LEFT TOP The innovation kitchen for Flashpoint Innovation.
LEFT BOTTOM The floral studio and workshop for Third Season by The Roof Crop.
RIGHT The gathering space and bar on the Second Floor used to host events in collaboration with Maxwells Trading.
A NOVEL TWIST ON COCKTAILS
INKWELL
CLIENT
DXU ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECT
LG BUILDERS
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
RESTAURANT
TYPE
1,710 SQUARE FEET
MAY 2024
COMPLETION
INKWELL OPENS ITS SECOND LOCATION IN FULTON MARKET
We are excited to announce the completion of the Inkwell cocktail bar in Fulton Market, a project that reflects our experience in the restaurant construction world. This intimate cocktail venue has transformed the space into a unique experience, and we’re proud to see it come to life in one of Chicago’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
Guests can pull up a chair at the bar and engage with the talented team, known for concocting custom cocktails based on patrons’ flavor preferences. Inkwell, which originated in Omaha, was conceptualized by Tyler Schaeffer and his partners during their time working in a bar in Los Angeles. Inspired by Tyler’s father, a writer, the name and literary theme of the bar pay homage to the creative spirit behind its inception. As highlighted in an article by What Now Chicago, Inkwell stands out with its quirky decor, including a stuffed Kurt Vonnegut doll atop a typewriter, creating a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere.
We are thrilled to see the expansion of this unique concept into Chicago, adding to the vibrant cocktail scene in Fulton Market. At LG Builders, we’re proud to have played a role in bringing Inkwell to life. We look forward to continuing our work in this exciting neighborhood and enhancing Chicago’s culinary landscape.
Thank you to our talented team and the Inkwell crew for their collaboration on this project. Be sure to visit Inkwell and experience the innovative cocktail culture for yourself!
Words: What Now Chicago
Photos: Anthony Tahlier
TOPPING
TOPPING OUT
CELEBRATING SOL MODERN, THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN PHOENIX, REACHING IT’S FINISHED HEIGHT
601 N CENTRAL PHOENIX, AZ
SOL REACHES A CRITICAL MILESTONE
On July 25th, LG Development, celebrated the topping out milestone for Sol Modern, the largest residential tower in downtown Phoenix. Built on a once-historic site, the 29-story mixed-use development was designed by bKL in collaboration with LG Design.
Located at 601 North Central Avenue at the corner of East Fillmore Street and North Central Avenue, the project’s sprawling 1,306,946 GSF gross enclosed area encompasses an entire city block.
The tower will contain eight levels of above-grade parking and nearly 30,000 SF of retail on the first level, while the building’s podium will feature liner residential units, flagship commercial retail space, and parking for both residents and retail. Additionally, residents will enjoy a wide range of shared indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, including two large amenity decks on the 8th and 28th floors. The property will feature two pools – including the largest multi-family pool in Phoenix – in addition to expansive outdoor lounges, kitchens, cabanas, spa, fitness turf area, basketball court, dog park, citrus groves, and extensive shading elements.
The development’s expansive nature ensures that it will play a pivotal role in reactivating the surrounding street-level and increasing the pedestrian-oriented streetscape.
“As we commemorate the topping out of Sol Modern, LG Group acknowledges and celebrates the significant and invaluable contributions of bKL Architecture and Layton Construction, without which this progress milestone wouldn’t be possible,” said Jack Ryden, Director of Development at LG Group. “It is our deep collaboration and collective goal of making a positive impact on the downtown Phoenix area and skyline that has inspired our work to this point, and will continue to as we track towards completion.”
“The massive structure of Sol Modern is literally changing Phoenix’s skyline. Achieving this topping out milestone is a testament to the continued revitalization of downtown, as well as true partnership and teamwork between LG Group, bKL Architecture, Layton Construction, and all our trade partners. We couldn’t be more proud to work with this team on this project,” said Andrew Geier, Executive Vice President of Layton Construction.
With a focus on responsive design, the development strategically maintains visibility of the adjacent historic Westward Ho structure. This approach provides Sol Modern’s 747 residential units with generous views and access to daylight, most of which also feature private serrated balconies to offer shaded respite from high temperatures. Further, the tower’s façade design is inspired by Arizona’s vast desert landscape, embracing the beauty of the surrounding natural environment as a crucial element of the aesthetic. The materials used to construct the building include glass, metal, exposed concrete, CMU, and ground face block.
“bKL is proud to recognize this milestone and celebrate the partnership with both LG Group and Layton Construction,” said Thomas Kerwin, Founding Principal of bKL Architecture. “The attention to detail and commitment to design excellence will serve both the future residents and, just as importantly, the surrounding urban district.”
Sol Modern is currently scheduled for completion in the spring of 2025.
folklore and Parisian bistro culture, dive bar authenticity and refined luxury.
Our creative team builds brands with soul, weaving narratives into every corner through thoughtful integration of brand strategy and interior design from day one. The result is an immersive environment where every detail—from weathered typography to ambient lighting— builds a cohesive story that feels both discovered and intentional.
The materiality speaks volumes: deep tones and supple leather nod to dive bar heritage, while metallic moments and considered lighting carve out sophisticated comfort. This duality flows through every touchpoint, from Sailor Jerry-inspired illustrations to environmental graphics.
Through close creative collaboration, we transform our clients’ visions into tangible experiences, keeping the narrative pure and potent under one creative roof. What emerges is more than design—it’s a complete world where ancient wolf lore meets tattoo culture’s rebellion, where luxe touches balance raw authenticity.
The moment guests cross the threshold, they’re stepping into a space where every element has meaning, where design and narrative intertwine to create an experience that resonates long after they leave.
LIZ FLORES
“ART WAS FREEDOM”
GO BEYOND THE CANVAS WITH CHICAGO-BASED PAINTER AND MURALIST, LIZ FLORES, FOR AN INSIDE LOOK INTO HER PROCESS, VISION AND COLLABORATION WITH LG GROUP AT ARTHUR ON ABERDEEN
ARTIST SERIES
Unlike most of her contemporary creative counterparts, when local Chicago artist Liz Flores begins mapping out ideas for a new piece, she goes back to the drawing board –literally.
“The first step in my process is pencil-to-paper sketching,” she shares about the genesis of her work. “I always like to start with a tactile drawing before I do anything digitally. It feels less permanent, [which] takes a little bit of the pressure off of thinking of an idea.”
The approach may seem like a surprising harken back to analog days of old for a rising millennial artist, but in fact, it’s organic to how Flores draws upon the past for inspiration. As a proud Latina of Mexican and Cuban heritage who was raised in a strict Catholic household, the female-forward vision behind her work is a reflection of her cultural experiences, especially the tight-knit familial community of strong women she was surrounded by.
“I grew up with women all around me. I had all my aunts, my cousins, my two grandmothers [nearby] – it just happened to be a lot of women,” Flores recalls. “My main inspiration is always womanhood and the female body. Growing up in a more strict, Catholic household, I don’t think the female body was always very celebrated. When I became an artist, I just wanted to go the complete opposite. I think art was freedom for me in a lot of ways.”
That creative freedom is reflected in the form, palette and substance of Flores’s work, with the natural lines and shapes of the female body at the forefront complemented by her preferred colors, including terracotta and other earth tones evocative of Mexican pottery and ceramics. Despite how individual her artistic storytelling is, though, the specificity of Flores’s paintings and murals lends itself to a universality that allows each viewer to take away something personal, regardless of their background.
“I love hearing from people that they’re receptive to, or see themselves in, the painting,” she enthuses. “A lot of the figurative work I do – the faces could really be anybody; it’s not like I’m doing very specific portraits of myself or my family.”
She adds, “I always say, if even one person comes up to me and says, ‘That reminds me of something that I grew up with,’ or ‘That resonates with me,’ I’m like, ‘Okay, I did my job.’”
Flores has done much more than just her job when it comes to making art, especially in joining forces with high-profile Chicago entities on major public projects. Following local commissioned collaborations with companies including Lululemon, Soho House and the Chicago Bears, LG Group identified Flores as the ideal partner to create murals for Arthur on Aberdeen, its hospitalityfocused luxury rental residence in the heart of the city’s Fulton Market neighborhood designed for those with uncompromising taste.
For her part, Flores was thrilled to get the call to work with a company that had a shared artistic sensibility and expertise, as was the case with the LG Design team.
“It really felt like an easy collaboration,” she reflected. “I like working with people who are in the design world; it’s easier to collaborate because you’re all creatives, so you all kind of understand these different processes.”
Once Flores learned more about LG Design’s 70s-inspired aesthetic approach and the specific spaces at Arthur on Aberdeen that she’d be creating custom murals for – the rooftop pool and outdoor gym areas, respectively – everything flowed naturally from there.
“First, I just loved where [the work] was going to be. Whenever your art can be in a stunning location, that just lends itself to the beauty of the piece. And anytime it’s a residence, I think about that more, because people are going to live with it everyday, so it has to be great.”
Flores continues, “When [the team] showed me the color palettes and what they were doing, everything really matched my aesthetic and vibe. And I’d never done a mural by a pool, so anything new is always just really fun.”
The end result was two wholly original, traffic-stopping murals designed exclusively for the unique spaces they inhabit, and the impact they would have on residents’ daily lives.
“I hope [my work] feels very organic; that a Chicago artist did this,” she said. “You want the murals to stand out, but you also don’t want it to be overpowering; you want them to blend in with living, and the life that is there. At the same time, I want it to feel very natural for the space.”
With those critical practical matters handled, Flores adds one footnote: “And obviously, I hope they think it’s beautiful to look at.”
From Arthur on Aberdeen residents, to LG Group and beyond, the resounding answer is ‘yes.’
ROOFTOP POOL DECK
“[With] the pool, I was thinking of sunbathing and relaxation. Then, what does that look like; how is your body oriented when you’re sunbathing? I took some inspiration from a Picasso painting, where he had people with their hands over their heads. And the emotion: how can you express something with the way a hand is being drawn, or the way a face is turning this way or that way? So I just loved that [approach] for this element.”
OUTDOOR GYM AREA
“The gym [area] was interesting and different from the pool, because you have the windows, so the mural had to be pieced. It was harder to think, how do I [create] a composition that makes sense? I tried to focus on the main pillar in the middle of the windows. I needed to have some sort of female figure in there, because I wanted to tie it to the pool. And then everything else around it [were] pieces of the body intertwining. That’s what I did as well for the cement – like a little area that goes around that outdoor space.”
LIZ FLORES (American b.1990)
Liz Flores, a visionary artist of Mexican and Cuban descent, draws inspiration from the richness of everyday human experiences, the art of storytelling, and the captivating allure of the female form. Immersed in the world of acrylic paint on canvas, her artistic expression transcends conventional boundaries, encapsulating the essence of the human condition through a mesmerizing interplay of lines, shapes, and abstract figures.
At the heart of her creative journey lies a profound connection to life’s intricate journey—an emotional response to the world around her and a poignant reflection of memories etched in time. Liz Flores’ oeuvre serves as a compelling dialogue on community, womanhood, and the vibrant spirit of Latinidad. Her paintings, where women take center stage, are not merely portraits but embody universal narratives that remain fluid and open to interpretation. The absence of defined faces and forms in her depictions invites viewers into a realm of self-discovery, encouraging them to find aspects of themselves within the enigmatic beauty of her creations.
For more about the artist, visit www.lizfloresart.com
Photography: Daniel Kelleghan Photography
CANCER IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
LG GROUP SHOWS UP TO SUPPORT CULINARY CARE IN THE CORPORATE COOK-OFF
LG’s commitment to community impact was on display at this year’s Culinary Care Corporate Cook-Off, a culinary competition that unites companies across Chicago in support of cancer patients and their families. This partnership with Culinary Care exemplifies LG Group’s dedication to investing meaningfully in the communities we serve, going beyond traditional corporate giving to create genuine social impact while empowering our team members to pursue philanthropic causes they’re passionate about.
Culinary Care’s mission is to make nourishment an essential part of cancer care by delivering free restaurant-prepared meals and fostering community support.
Culinary Care envisions a world where every cancer patient can look forward to their next meal and savor precious moments with loved ones. Through the generosity of supporters, they’re not just delivering meals—they’re delivering hope, one plate at a time.
The organization’s approach combines practical support with emotional care, creating a model of compassionate community action that makes a real difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families. By transforming the simple act of sharing a meal into a powerful tool for support and connection, Culinary Care demonstrates how small acts of kindness can have profound impacts on those facing life’s greatest challenges.
Through their work, Culinary Care reminds us that while we cannot always change the course of illness, we can change how people experience it—surrounded by support, nourishment, and most importantly, hope.
LG HOMES BROKER OPEN
EMPOWERING BROKERS: INSIGHTS AND TOOLS FROM THE LUXURY BUILDER, ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGNER WORLDS
LG Homes invited top brokers in the luxury residential market to the LG Group office for a unique and inspiring event earlier where industry experts from luxury construction, architecture, and design gathered to share valuable insights for anyone looking to elevate their work. The event provided a unique opportunity for candid conversations on current trends and best practices in the luxury residential world.
Panelists shared their perspectives on the evolving landscape of home design, emphasizing the importance of creating timeless spaces that reflect clients’ unique personalities.
“By pushing authentic, natural materials and tailoring designs to our clients’ personalities, we not only create unique, timeless spaces but also add significant value that makes a broker’s job easier,” one expert shared.
The discussion also touched on the intricacies of the design and build process. “Building a home is a journey that can take several years,” said another panelist. “Investing time upfront to bring in the right partners and address details before construction begins ensures a smoother build and a home that truly reflects the client’s vision.”
In today’s market, the focus on quality over quantity is key. "Prioritize timeless elements that provide a strong foundation for future updates, rather than trying to include everything at once," one expert advised. "This approach not only enhances the initial build but also sets the stage for a more fulfilling living experience."
Topics explored included the art of translating a client’s vision into a functional space, key features brokers should highlight during walkthroughs, and the trends shaping what clients want today.
From Left to Right: Larry Kearns (Wheeler Kearns), Jennie Bishop (Studio Gild), Harry Huzenis (JRG Capital), Brian Goldberg (LG Group) and Lucas Goldbach (EnMasse).
QUARTERLY PAGE-TURNERS
A LOOK AT THE BOOKS WE CAN’T PUT DOWN AND ARE EAGER TO PASS ON
MEASURE WHAT MATTERS: HOW GOOGLE, BONO AND THE GATES FOUNDATION ROCK THE WORLD WITH OKRs
Legendary venture capitalist John Doerr reveals how the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) has helped tech giants from Intel to Google achieve explosive growth—and how it can help any organization thrive.
In Measure What Matters, Doerr shares a broad range of first-person, behind-the-scenes case studies, with narrators including Bono and Bill Gates, to demonstrate the focus, agility, and explosive growth that OKRs have spurred at so many great organizations. This book will help a new generation of leaders capture the same magic.
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
The 7 Habits have become famous and are integrated into everyday thinking by millions and millions of people. Why?
Because they work!
With Sean Covey’s added takeaways on how the habits can be used in our modern age, the wisdom of the 7 Habits will be refreshed for a new generation of leaders.
They include:
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
This beloved classic presents a principlecentered approach for solving both personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and practical anecdotes, Stephen R. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity—principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
LG Builders embraces the Lean Construction methodology to drive greater efficiency, collaboration, and value in our projects. This approach, rooted in Toyota’s lean manufacturing principles, focuses on streamlining processes and optimizing resources to deliver higher quality projects on time and within budget. To ensure we integrate these principles effectively, we’ve partnered with industry experts to facilitate the implementation of Lean and deepen our understanding of its benefits.
Here we share a curated reading list of books that resonated most with our team and continue to influence how we apply lean construction every day.
THE TOYOTA WAY: 14 MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FROM
THE
WORLD’S GREATEST MANUFACTURER
Multiple Shingo Award-winning management and operations expert Jeffrey K. Liker provides a deep dive into Toyota’s world-changing processes, showing how you can learn from it to develop your own improvement program that fits your conditions. Thanks in large part to this book, managers across the globe are creating workforces and systems that produce the highestquality products and services, establish and retain customer loyalty, and drive business profitability and sustainability.
Organized into thematic sections covering the various aspects of the Toyota Way―including Philosophy, Processes, People, and Problem Solving― this unparalleled guide details the 14 key principles for building the foundation of a powerful improvement system and managing it for ultimate competitive advantage.
THE FIVE DYSFUNCTIONS OF A TEAM
For twenty years, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team has been engaging audiences with a page-turning, realistic fable that follows the travails of Kathryn Petersen, DecisionTech’s CEO, as she faces the ultimate leadership crisis. She must unite a team in such disarray that it threatens to derail the entire company.
Equal parts leadership fable and business handbook, this definitive source on teamwork by Patrick Lencioni reveals the five behavioral tendencies that go to the heart of why even the best teams struggle. He offers a powerful model and step-by-step guide for overcoming those dysfunctions and getting every one rowing in the same direction.
Today, the lessons in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team are more relevant than ever. This special anniversary edition celebrates one of the best-selling business books of all time with a new foreword from the author that reflects on its legacy and lessons.
ELAINE BARR, RA
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER LG BUILDERS
Q | When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this field and what brought you to LG?
A | I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in or around construction, Lincoln Logs & Legos were my jam when I was a kid. My background is in architecture, but what led to my pivot to construction was being on site for weekly OAC’s and seeing all the moving parts, problems, and people the GC had to juggle. I realized just being a part of producing the drawing set wasn’t scratching that construction itch and I wanted to be a part of the execution of them. LG’s diverse project portfolio drew me in and getting to work with people who are passionate about what they do has been a fulfilling experience.
Q | What are some ways you stay motivated and focused throughout the work week?
A | A huge driving factor that keeps me motivated is showing up for my team and trying to get everyone what they need so we can keep the projects going. Managing construction is complicated enough, so I try really hard to be someone people can count on. What keeps me focused is music! I make a playlist for every occasion, mood, and genre to keep me going.
Q | What is one thing you cannot live without and why?
A | Any and all live music! Concerts, festivals, dive bar cover bands, that one guy at every house party who carries his guitar around just to flex their cover of Wonderwall, I love it. I think I always have a concert booked on my schedule. I crave loud noises, maybe that’s why I like being on site so much.
Q | Leave us with one recommendation for what to do this month?
A | My favorite movie of all time is Alien, so I recommend going to see the new Alien: Romulus movie! I think this one takes it back to the Ridley Scott roots and has everything: (spoiler alert) aliens, gore, another cool pair of Reebok sneakers, and a visceral interpretation on the myth of the founding of Rome. Highly recommend!
Q | How is being a licensed architect influencing your career and work currently, where do you want this to take you in the future?
A | Besides being able to put some cool postnominal letters after my name on my email signature, I think being an architect gives me a unique perspective to be able to approach problems differently. There are many factors that influence the design, and you have so much to consider when making changes that could impact other things negatively. In the future, I think I would like to explore the possibility of being the architect of record and managing the construction for a project. It sounds like a big responsibility sandwich, but I’m hungry!
Q | What advice would you give to someone just starting in architecture?
A | I think many people make the mistake of getting into architecture with hopes of producing these groundbreaking designs and crazy organically shaped structures, when they should go in with a more pragmatic approach of: “I will need to produce plans for a real project, that people will build, with real money and deadlines.” My biggest piece of advice is to try and be on site as much as you can as soon as you can to see the reality of how things get built and what issues and decisions arise from your drawings. Also, don’t be afraid to ask what you think may be a stupid question, I love asking stupid questions because A.) it shows others you want to learn and B.) sometimes what you thought was a simple question is actually a complicated question and now we need to find an answer to stay ahead of future issues.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
CAROLINE BREIDENBACH Assistant Project Manager | LG Builders
Caroline has joined LG in the fall of 2024 as an Assistant Project Manager. At LG, she will be supporting multiple different projects within the building group from pre-construction to project management. Caroline has spent the past 6 years working on luxury multi-family and commercial construction projects in downtown Chicago. Caroline grew up in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona but loves the Midwest and city living!
TODD AKESON Development Manager | LG Development
With over 5 years of high-end residential interior design experience, Todd joined LG Construction in 2016 as a project manager overseeing the construction of retail and restaurant projects throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2019, Todd moved to Baja California Sur, Mexico, spending 5 years with an LA-based developer managing the development and construction of the Four Seasons-branded Private Residences at Costa Palmas. With this diverse set of experiences, Todd has returned to LG Development as a development manager overseeing the pre-construction and construction of projects in both Tennessee and North Carolina.
In his free time, Todd enjoys golfing, playing pickup basketball (fun fact: he was a member of the Baja Rockstars, a Mexican streetball team), creating art (illustrations and large format abstract art), but most of all spending time with his nieces and nephew.
IN THE NEWS
THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN CHICAGO FOR 2024
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX RESIDENTIAL TOWER HITS MILESTONE
PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL
CHICAGO DEVELOPER CEMENTS CONSTRUCTION LOAN FOR 20-STORY PROJECT
NASHVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TWO TOWER DEVELOPMENT IN FULTON MARKET
CHICAGO YIMBY
BEITY | 3 CHICAGO RESTAURANTS ADDED TO MICHELIN GUIDE
CHICAGO SUN TIMES
lgTUNES
ACQUISITIONS ANTHEMS
CURATED BY LG ACQUISITIONS TEAM
I Can Do It With a Broken Heart Taylor Swift
A Bar Song Shaboozey
Pink Poney Club Chappel Roan
Too Sweet Hozier
Hide My Gun Post Malone
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap AC/DC
Don’t Fear the Reaper Blue Oyster Cult
Eyes of the World Grateful Dead
Sweet Savage Tchami
The Door Teddy Swims
Espresso Sabrina Carpenter
Neverender Justine
Slow It Down Benson Boone
Wez Nie Pytaj Pawel Domagala
Paranoid Black Sabbath
VISIT THE LG GROUP SPOTIFY CHANNEL
EVENTS
CULINARY CARE COOK-OFF
Wednesday, September 25th
LG BUILDERS TAILGATE
Thursday, October 17th
LG GROUP COSTUME BOWLING
Friday, October 18th
TXA TXA SUPPER CLUB
Friday, October 18th
FRIDAY YOGA
First Friday Each Month
NEXT ISSUE
BOTTEGA VENETA
Project Feature | LG Builders
440 RANDOLPH
Project Feature | LG Builders
LAKEWOOD RESIDENCE
Project Feature | LG Homes
1045 W FULTON
Project Feature | LG Builders
363 W Ontario Street Chicago, Illinois 60654
Visit us at: lg-group.com
Follow us on Instagram: @lg_group
For leasing or investment opportunities: Dan Haughney daniel@lg-group.com
Looking to join our team? Contact us at: careers@lg-group.com
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