This article was originally published on Jan. 8, 2024, and is among Environments for Aging’s most-read articles of 2024. To see a full list, click here.
Clarendale Six Corners, Chicago
Decades ago, Six Corners was a bustling commercial district with retail stores, restaurants, and neighborhood services in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago’s northwest side. Over the years, as suburbs expanded and regional malls gained popularity, urban commercial districts across the country like Six Corners experienced rising vacancies.
Real estate developer Ryan Companies (Chicago) recognized the neighborhood’s potential with a dense older population and lack of new senior housing within a 5-mile radius. The firm partnered with LCS (Des Moines, Iowa), proposing a four-acre master plan that would include a senior living community, grocery store, retail and a pedestrian plaza.
The demolition of a historic bank followed by a stalled proposal for a shopping center development made way for Clarendale Six Corners to occupy the vacant corner.
Opened in January 2023, the senior living community is designed to respond to the needs and desires of the local community.
Overcoming site restraints
The site for the senior living community comprised a tight, V-shaped, semi-excavated, water-filled lot.
Embracing these parameters, the project team, including architect Ryan A+E Inc. (Chicago) and Perkins Eastman (interior design services; Chicago), paired a triangular-shaped building to fit the V-shaped footprint with a high-rise model to deliver an elegant structure that reflects the rich, architectural heritage of the city.
The 10-story building offers 258 senior living units, 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and parking for residents and retail customers.
This set-up benefits the residential experience by shortening walking distances to amenity spaces, enabling independent and assisted residents to intermix on upper floors.
New senior living in Chicago
The community houses 114 independent living units, 98 assisted living units, and 46 memory care units.
Among the building features are three large areas on the exterior for murals by local artists that celebrate the neighborhood. Inside the lobby and amenity spaces, organic shapes and patterns are balanced with lush fabric textures and warm wood tones in the flooring and casework for a sense of timeless ease.
Artifacts, including reclaimed bank safe items, were salvaged from the demolished building originally on the site and are displayed throughout the amenity spaces.
Common spaces are focused on building community and establishing a sense of inclusion and independence. As such, residents have access to restaurant-style dining venues, a theater, fitness center, salon/spa, and outdoor landscaped terraces.
The spaces are designed for flexibility and openness, allowing the common areas to adapt to a variety of uses including private or larger social gatherings.
Clarendale Six Corners project details
Location: Chicago
Completion date: January 2023
Owner: A joint venture of Ryan Companies US Inc., LCS and Harrison Street Real Estate
Total building area: 369,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: Not disclosed
Cost/sq. ft.: Not disclosed
Total development cost: $117 million
Architect: Ryan A+E Inc.
Interior designer: Perkins Eastman
General contractor: Ryan Companies US Inc.
Engineer: Tylk, Gustafson, Reckers, Wilson, Andrews (TGRWA, structural), RTM Engineering Consultants LLC (civil)
Builder: Ryan Companies US Inc.
Medical equipment planner: Not disclosed
