Optima, Inc. has leased all 22 furnished office suites at Optima Signature, its 57-story, 490-unit Class A apartment tower at 220 E. Illinois St. in Streeterville. The suites range in size from 194 to 1,610 square feet.

“When we designed the Optima Signature office suites, our goal was to deliver a unique coworking space that stayed true to the Optima lifestyle by offering the ultimate living experience near Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk,” said David Hovey Sr., CEO of Optima. “The fact that the office suites at Optima Signature leased in under a year shows our shared office experience resonated with the growing number of professionals who work remotely in this area.”

Along with access to the building’s amenities, business suite users also have access to a conference room with high-tech audio/visual, shared kitchen and dining area. Rents range from $1,000 to $2,800 per month.

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A 57-story apartment tower in the Streeterville neighborhood plans to convert some of its office space to small classrooms, betting that frazzled families will seek space outside the home to conduct remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 490-unit Optima Signature, a skyscraper at 220 E. Illinois St. known for its bright red lower levels, is no ordinary schoolhouse.

Yet with many parents working from home since March amid COVID-19, and with many schools planning to conduct classes virtually this fall, the building’s owner believes there will be a demand for learning pods. So-called “pandemic pods” and “micro-schools” allow small groups of kids from close-knit families to study together in person with a teacher, tutor or parent.

Widespread closures of schools and day cares has left Chicago-area workers and employers scrambling for solutions.

Glencoe-based architecture and development firm Optima, which completed the Streeterville high-rise in 2017, last week began marketing four of its 25 office suites for educational purposes.

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The Guidepost Montessori at Magnificent Mile school is more than doubling in size to accommodate the addition of an elementary school at Optima Signature, a mixed-use development in Streeterville.

Developer Optima, Inc., said the school will lease an additional 14,000 square feet – the building’s last available retail space – with plans to open this fall to serve first through fifth grades.

“Since the school’s opening just over a year ago, many of the families living at Optima Signature – or who live or work in the surrounding neighborhood – have embraced the school’s convenience factor and its quality Montessori early childhood education program,” said Optima CEO David Hovey Sr.

“Whether you want to grab breakfast or lunch, take your pet in for a check-up, or you’re in need of an elementary school, the retail line-up at Optima Signature is dynamic and truly fills a niche in the growing Streeterville neighborhood,” Hovey continued.

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The 57-story Optima Signature rental tower in Streeterville has pivoted due to the pandemic. For parents and tutors looking for space outside their homes for student e-learning, owner Optima Inc. has begun marketing its office suites for student learning pods.

The business suites are furnished with five to seven work stations, a mini-fridge, built-in cabinetry and window treatments; come with WiFi; are professionally cleaned; and provide access to a curated selection of building amenities, including outdoor lounge areas for al fresco studying. Additionally, the suites are being made available to anyone, not only residents of Optima Signature.

Located on the building’s second and seventh floors, the study suites are available for $1,800 to $2,400 per month. Designed by architect David Hovey Sr. and completed in 2017, Optima Signature is a 490-unit Class A tower at 220 E. Illinois St.
The move comes as coworking providers consider opening spaces to students.

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The amenities arms race was at a fever pitch at the start of 2020, as each new multifamily property tried to raise the bar of over-the-top enticements to lure prospects to their community.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Now, instead of touting gleaming gyms, demonstration kitchens, and group-focused event spaces, operators have had to pivot to help residents feel “alone together,” without actually bringing them within 6 feet of each other. The result has been a rethinking of the amenity calculus that operators had applied to their properties for years, and a shift in their engagement strategies they now say will last long after a majority of Americans are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Another extension of that outdoor theme is exactly that—balconies and outdoor spaces, both in common areas and apartments themselves, that let residents breathe easier while enjoying a connection to nature.

Just look at the ARO rental tower in Manhattan, where a multilevel podium with ample room for social distancing allows residents to relax, and balconies give space to spread out. That outward focus is already changing how multifamily communities look, another aspect that observers say is here to stay.

“Interest in balconies, terraces, courtyards, and roof decks has skyrocketed in the past year. It’s no longer an afterthought,” says architect Cetra. “It’s likely that from a design standpoint, we’ll start to see a more seamless integration of balcony spaces into the façades of multifamily projects.”

That draw to the outdoors is even strong in chillier climes. Look at Optima Signature, a 57-story luxury tower in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, where an expansive 1.5 acres of amenity space connects residents to the open air.

“People want to connect to the outdoors, even in winter,” says David Hovey Jr., president of developer Optima. “We just put in new heat lamps so residents can continue to enjoy the fresh air by spending time outside and cooking dinner on our grilling stations even as the thermometer drops.”

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Optima Signature, the mixed-use development at 220 East Illinois St. in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, will add an elementary school this fall. The Guidepost Montessori at Magnificent Mile school will lease 14K SF in the building, its last available retail space, and plans to serve first through fifth grades.

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For parents and tutors looking for space outside their home for student e-learning, a 57-story rental high-rise in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood is offering a creative solution. Optima Signature has made a recent pivot due to the pandemic and started marketing its office suites for student learning pods.

The business suites are furnished with five to seven workstations, a mini-fridge, built-in cabinetry and window treatments. The space comes with Wi-Fi, is professionally cleaned and provides access to a curated selection of building amenities, such as outdoor lounge areas for al fresco studying. Plus, the suites are available to anyone, not just residents of Optima Signature.

Designed by award-winning architect David Hovey Sr., Optima Signature is a 490-unit, Class A tower at 220 E. Illinois Street. The mixed-use property was developed by Optima, Inc. and completed in 2017. Located on the building’s second and seventh floors, the study suites are available for $1,800 to $2,400 per month.

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The Guidepost Montessori at Magnificent Mile school is more than doubling in size to accommodate the addition of an elementary school at Optima Signature, a mixed-use development at 220 E. Illinois Street in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. Optima, Inc., developer of the building, announced the school will lease an additional 14,000 square feet—the building’s last available retail space—with plans to open this fall to serve first through fifth grades.

“Since the school’s opening just over a year ago, many of the families living at Optima Signature—or who live or work in the surrounding neighborhood—have embraced the school’s convenience factor and its quality Montessori early childhood education program,” said David Hovey Sr., CEO of Optima, Inc. “Whether you want to grab breakfast or lunch, take your pet in for a check-up or you’re in need of an elementary school, the retail line-up at Optima Signature is dynamic and truly fills a niche in the growing Streeterville neighborhood to make the building a destination for people in the area.”

This is the property’s second commercial leasing announcement in as many months, following the lease-up of all 22 furnished office suites at Optima Signature. In addition to Guidepost Montessori, retail tenants include Egg Harbor Café, a restaurant specializing in breakfast, brunch and lunch; GoodVets Streeterville, a full-service veterinarian redefining pet care; RUNAWAY fitness, a run conditioning fitness studio and Bedazzled Nails & Spa.

Read the full feature at RE Journals

Visit Optima Signature for more details