Luxury well-placed

402 luxury rental units at MILA are home to a growing trend of young professionals and empty nesters willing to invest in downtown Chicago's chic city life. Hear John Buck, Chairman of The John Buck Company take you on a tour.

Exploring MILA

At MILA, you don't have to walk far to experience the city's vibrant culture. The 41-story residential tower is located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Lake street. The structure’s name represents a combination of the two.

MILA sits prominently beside the historic Carbide and Carbon Building. With an east-west orientation and narrow face addressing Michigan Avenue, the new tower complements its Art Deco predecessor and encourages a dialogue between the buildings while permitting enough space for each to establish its distinct presence.

More than 30,000 square feet of amenities include a bocce ball court, pet grooming center and dog obstacle course and urban garden. Outdoor space can accommodate large or small gatherings.

MILA also offers traditional spaces like a party room, rooftop swimming pool, sun deck, multiple lounges and a fitness center.

Residents enjoy modern comforts including 24/7 room service, concierge and valet service, grilling stations, an outdoor movie screen and a bike sharing program. Tucked beneath the base is a 125-space parking garage.

MILA is also home to two levels of retail space that will contribute to the rejuvenation of this once-unoccupied stretch of Michigan Avenue. The location is accessible to the shopping of north Michigan Avenue and the many attractions of Millennium and Grant Parks.

Backstory

 

How did you get that view?
Pepper blended laser scanning, BIM and augmented reality to ensure residents will have just the right sight lines from the 6th floor outdoor deck. This allowed the developers to visualize the view and change the layout before construction started. Clash detection enabled seamless coordination of the mechanical systems, allowing designers to minimize mechanical space and maximize amenity areas.

What's behind these walls?
MILA earned LEED Gold certification thanks to its eco-friendly approach, including:

  • 30% of all materials sourced from within 500 miles of the project site
  • Preferred parking for 5% of the parking capacity is dedicated to fuel efficient vehicles
  • The building reduced water usage by 35%

How did you achieve the finishes?
Pepper’s preconstruction services were key in creating a construction plan that matched the accelerated timeline for the project and a budgeting process that accommodated its high end finishes, while maintaining value for the client. The additional time spent in the planning phase allowed for the most efficient construction without compromising on quality.

What's the next high rise coming up?

We're building Hotel ECM2, A Marriott Autograph Hotel, in the Streeterville neighborhood, comfortably fitting 24 stories and 220 rooms on a diminutive 60-foot-wide by 120-foot-deep site.

Subscribe to this project to keep up to date on progress.

MILA

Location: The corner of Michigan Avenue and Lake Street in Chicago, IL

Owner: 200 N. Michigan Owner, LLC

Developer: Buck Development, LLC

Architect: BKL Architecture, LLC

Interior Architect: Philip Koether Architects

Rendering: BKL Architecture, LLC 

Interior Photography: Nicolas Arellano Photography

Exterior Photography: Hedrich Blessing