The 734 Milwaukee Project is a 22-story, 226-unit mixed-use building. The Project included 3,050 square feet of retail space, a 68-space parking garage, and renovations to an existing three-story office building on the site.
With a total site area of 28,315 square feet, the development was classified as a “regulated site” due to site disturbance of more than 15,000 square feet. As such, comprehensive stormwater management measures were required. Bono designed a solution that included the installation of a concrete vault beneath the parking ramp for stormwater detention, with roof drains directing runoff into the vault. Volume control was achieved through the installation of a “green roof” located on the fourth-floor roof of the high-rise. Green roofs are increasingly used in urban areas where other stormwater management systems will not fit on small sites. Green roofs include a layer of plant material that help absorb rainwater and reduce runoff from impervious roof surfaces.
Because of our low-impact and green design solutions, the Project exceeded the City of Chicago’s stormwater ordinance requirements by 50%.
In collaboration with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), our design introduced bike lane protection islands along Milwaukee Avenue. These enhancements support CDOT’s Complete Streets Initiative and are designed to improve cyclist safety by reducing conflicts between bicycles and motor vehicles. Additional public infrastructure improvements included ADA-compliant upgrades to adjacent sidewalks and curb ramps.
