Rehabbed Historic Building Home Features Charm of 1929 Art Deco
Plus the Latest in Technological and Lifestyle Amenities
Designed by Holabird and Root, the 27-story Buckingham building at 59 E. Van Buren was commissioned by the Buckingham family (of fountain fame) with interiors that include terrazzo hallways, marble wainscoting and a spacious lobby with art deco relief panels. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a contributing structure to the Historic Michigan Boulevard District (a Chicago Landmark District).
The restoration and gut rehab of the structure began in 2006 when Brownstone Realty & Development Co. and L & H Real Estate Group formed a joint venture development entity (The Buckingham, LLC). Brownstone President David S. Dewey had spearheaded a number of developments, reclaiming and rehabbing historic properties and a five-year lease was brokered with Columbia College Chicago to develop the property for student housing.
“We look forward to a great relationship with Columbia and the Columbia students,” says Dewey. “I’m confident that with the college’s emphasis on arts and culture, the students will have a special appreciation of the care and effort that went into restoring this remarkable historic property. We’ve gone the extra mile in providing a great environment in which they can live and learn.”
With an eye to the upscale demands of today’s residential college students, the apartment building, now called The Buckingham, boasts 129 studio-, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, totaling 456 beds. The building is fully occupied for Columbia’s 2007-8 academic year. Each living unit features ensuite laundry, full kitchens loaded with Energy Star appliances including dishwasher, disposal, microwave and refrigerators with icemakers. The entire building is, of course ‘wired,’ and High Speed internet, satellite television, and central heating and air conditioning are provided.
In keeping with Columbia’s program of sustainability and creating a green campus, the developers have used a predominance of ‘green’ features including Interface carpeting, Marmoleum flooring by Forbo, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency heat pump HVAC system, Thermopane windows, new perimeter insulation and Energy Star roofing. Compact fluorescent energy efficient light bulbs are used throughout the building and management is planning initiatives for students to save energy and be environmentally friendly.
“The Buckingham project is absolutely consistent with Columbia’s track record for recycling existing buildings as part of our commitment to the environment” says Alicia Berg, Columbia’s vice president for campus environment. “We also take real pride in our role as stewards of Chicago’s historic architecture.
“The way the historic architecture contrasts with the contemporary interior design coupled with the breathtaking views, gives the Buckingham the feel of a boutique hotel,” adds Berg.
Building amenities include a 24-hour security staff, fitness center, business center, craft room, lobby level guest lounge with fireplace, study lounge, 27th floor sky lounge with a variety of games, vending machines and an internet café with WiFi.
“With our continued enrollment increases and ever-expanding residential population -- this year totaling 2,700 students living on campus -- not to mention the rising level of lifestyle expectations by students and parents, the Buckingham is an ideal fit for Columbia,” says Mark Kelly, vice president of student affairs. “The students couldn’t be happier with the apartments, the building amenities, the great location just one block from our core campus, and the great community that is already emerging among residents.”
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