Chicago paper mill finds new life as contemporary loft living

Results matter in any restoration and coating project. But the ante is even higher when the final job will be seen every day by more than 100,000 commuters passing by on a major urban expressway.

The project

A former paper mill building with high ceilings and expansive views in Chicago’s West Loop, VB 1224 Lofts was the perfect space for a condominium conversion. However, when the interior transformation was complete, an exterior inspection found significant deterioration on the eight-story brick and concrete structure.

Engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, Inc. was awarded the project to design and oversee repair work, and they brought in LS Contracting Group to handle the most immediate structural needs. When the work moved to a new round of repairs that required the application of protective coatings, LS included Andy Hart of National Decorating Service on their team of subcontractors, based on previously completed successful projects.

The paint

Specifying the right coating was crucial, especially on the building’s highly visible south elevation, a haphazard mix of original red brick capped by a gray two-story curtain wall addition at the upper two stories.

“We included Sherwin-Williams early in the design phase because we knew some factors – such as adhesion on previously coated surfaces – were going to be critical,” says Alex Szatanek of Thornton Tomasetti.

Loxon™ XP Waterproofing Masonry Coating was the obvious choice for a protective solution that could meet this project’s requirements, says Sean Meracle of Sherwin-Williams.

“Our coating recommendation was based on the environmental conditions in Chicago, as well as on the need for a product that could work on a building that had been coated several times,” he says. “While adhesion was important, the coating also had to provide permeability, and Loxon XP delivers on both of those counts.”

The prep

The south elevation faces the Eisenhower Expressway, so it’s seen by over 100,000 commuters every day, says Rachel Michelin, a senior project architect at Thornton Tomasetti. Due to extensive localized repairs, it was a priority to coat the façade to provide a uniform appearance and make the facade look new.

“Since the building had been previously coated, one of the first things we asked Sherwin-Williams to do was adhesion testing, so we would know early on how well the coatings would adhere to the existing substrate,” she says.

As teams from LS Contracting Group started grinding, tuckpointing and replacing deteriorated brick at the shelf angles, crews from National Decorating Service began applying custom-tinted Sherwin-Williams Loxon™ XP Waterproofing Masonry Coating to seal and protect areas not undergoing repair. This required close routine communication, since both companies had to complete initial repair or coating tasks and allow time for curing – all while remaining on schedule.

“We clearly had to take a phased approach, which did make for a tight schedule,” Hart says. “In fact, we completed coating work down to ground level just before the winter weather would have shut us down.”

The color

The condominium board at VB 1224 Lofts selected the final exterior color, Foggy Day (SW 6235), to help distinguish the property in the eyes of both prospects and passing drivers.

“That color selection was a bold statement that took a vintage building and helped it look modern,” says Alex Szatanek of Thornton Tomasetti. “It helped blend the original six stories with the new two-level addition, giving the building a clean look all the way to the ground.”

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