Towering 34 stories, high-rise Flora is set within Chicago’s Fulton Market. The façade’s modern exterior showcases scale-like shimmering metal, while the base is set back for a pedestrian-friendly experience. Considered a recognizable landmark, the bold massing and mixed materials are a fresh aesthetic to the neighborhood.
Project Details
Location: Chicago
Developer: Trammell Crow Co.
Architect and Interior Designer: ESG Architecture & Design
Builder: Power Construction
Opened: October 2024
Number of Units: 368
Unit Mix: Studios to three-bedrooms
Rents: $2,297 to $15,914
The 368 units are a mixture of studios to three-bedrooms that maximize livability within the units and outside in the arranged amenities. Fulton Market’s only privately owned public park is integrated into Flora’s offerings and enhances the pedestrian areas at ground level. The tower’s hospitality-inspired approach integrates pathways and communal spaces outdoors to enhance connectivity to the surrounding neighborhood.
Within the building, residents enjoy a spa with steam and sauna facilities; a clubroom; a custom-furnished golf room; a moody sky lounge; and a pool set 370 feet high on the 34th floor with views of downtown. Amenities also include a gym, a pet spa, a podcast room, and chic coworking spaces.
Flora’s interiors layer mixed metals, exposed concrete, curated vintage details, and dramatic lighting to create a balanced and sophisticated environment. “At Flora, livability means more than just comfort—it’s about creating an elevated everyday experience. We designed spaces that feel both bold and welcoming, where rich materials, layered textures, and thoughtful amenities support how people truly live,” says architect Matthew Axtmann, ESG vice president and partner.
Ted Parisot
“From the intimacy of the sky lounge to the green respite of the public park, every element is about fostering a sense of belonging—resulting in a tactile, textural, and emotionally resonant living experience rooted in Chicago’s Fulton Market.”
The project was the first to undergo review by the newly established Chicago Committee on Design, a rigorous and precedent-setting design review process. Regular meetings with city staff were necessary to shape the building as it stands today. The project also was one of the first to implement the city’s updated mandates for on-site affordable housing, which required careful finance structuring and coordination with city agencies.
Developed on a brownfield site, Flora underwent extensive soil remediation for it to become a safe, functional site. The environmental challenges not only revitalized the site but exceeded the city’s sustainability goals. Flora gained three Green Globe certifications for its energy efficiency, conservation, and environmental stewardship.