Located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, 808 North Wells Street is a 16-story residential development that brings contemporary urban living to one of the city’s most distinctive districts.
Challenge
The development needed to meet the demands of Chicago’s competitive rental market while advancing sustainability goals. Located near major transit connections and bicycle routes, the design had to integrate seamlessly into the existing urban fabric, preserve city views, and provide the amenities residents increasingly expect from modern urban living.
Solution
The transit-oriented development delivers 318 rental units through a compact, efficient planning strategy that maximizes livability and sustainability. Residents enjoy a range of amenities, including a library, craft room, indoor-outdoor dog run, and rooftop lounges with city views. Drawing inspiration from River North’s industrial heritage and arts scene, a brick-clad podium accommodates retail space, leasing offices, parking, and bicycle storage, while reinforcing the project’s connection to nearby CTA Brown Line transit and Chicago’s bicycle network.
Outcome
Designed to achieve LEED® Gold certification, the development aligns with the Chicago Sustainable Development Policy and supports the city’s commitment to multimodal, bike-friendly transportation. The result is a vibrant residential community that combines sustainable living, transit accessibility, and highly desirable amenities to enhance the resident experience and foster urban connectivity.
A rooftop pool, outdoor kitchens, communal gardens, and coworking spaces maximize city views while extending living and gathering space beyond individual suites.
A two-level bicycle lounge with 318 bike storage spaces reinforces the development’s commitment to active transportation in one of Chicago’s most bike-friendly neighborhoods.
AMLI Residential collaborated with NORR as Architect of Record, HPA Design as the Design Architect and Interior Designer, and WALSH Construction as Contractor on the design and construction of the new residential development at 808 North Wells Street. Located in River North, a trendsetting neighborhood of Chicago, IL, the 16-story, transit-oriented development provides 318 smart rental units and marketable amenities. Striving for LEED Gold certification, the project aligns with the Chicago Sustainable Development Policy and supports Chicago’s reputation for becoming one of the top ten Bike Friendly cities in the US.
The development is located one block from a CTA Brown Line elevated train station and along North Wells Street, one of the primary bicycle thoroughfares stretching from the northside to the Central Business District.
To ensure the structure blended into the urban fabric, the massing was developed with a nod to the many low-rise warehouses and art galleries in the neighborhood by utilizing a common brick aesthetic for the podium base with a contemporary glass-sheathed jewel box rising above. The podium deck comprises retail shops, leasing offices, parking spaces, loading berths, and a robust bicycle experience with 318 bike storage spaces on two levels within a common bicycle lounge.
The residential floor layouts support current market trends, utilizing smart unit concepts of compact and sustainable planning strategies. As residential units continue to get smaller due to cost and sustainability, the need for active and well-used amenity spaces becomes more prevalent. Beyond ground floor lounge spaces and ride-share waiting areas, the design at 808 North Wells incorporates a mezzanine floor fitted with a library, tenant craft room and secured indoor – outdoor dog run and lounge equipped with dog wash and grooming area. The top-of-the-building amenities embrace breathtaking views of the city and feature a roof deck pool, outdoor kitchen, personal grill areas, fitness center, small communal gardens and a coworking format business center.
