Fast forward to the recent NeoCon 2010 in Chicago, where Wilkhahn entered its newest office product, ON®, and set an international benchmark for healthy office seating, winning the “Best of NeoCon” award honoring new commercial interiors products introduced to the contract furnishings industry during that show.   Five years of development combined with Wilkhahn’s four decades of expertise in dynamic seating, has produced ON®, a fluid combination of natural, 3-D movement – freedom to sit the way our bodies want & can. Ergonomists and healthcare experts are not the only ones to welcome this scientific research showing that, for the first time, an office chair encourages the natural, three-dimensional flexibility of the human body.

Over the past few months, ON has garnered several international awards and, now, at North America’s premier fair for commercial interiors, Wilkhahn’s new development won the top award in the “Best of NeoCon” competition. From the 326 products submitted, the judges gave ON a “Gold Award” in the “Ergonomic/Task” category and a “Silver Award” in the “Seating/Conference” category.  Then followed with the most coveted prize of all categories: ON scooped the “Best of Competition” award as NeoCon 2010′s top product.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate one of our newest tenants, Wilkhahn, on this exceptional achievement.  For more information or a presentation of this award winning chair and the remainder of their line, contact Samuel Gowland of Wilkhahn at 312.896.3446 or samuel.gowland@wilkhahn.com.

Tree Studios Courtyard

In a city known for its architecture, Tree Studios stands out for being both culturally and aesthetically pleasing.  Distinctive features are reminiscent of a time long past – the courtyard, the working fireplaces, the decorative woodwork and glass.  These unique touches remind us of a storied history, when painters and poets lived and worked together here for over a century.  Today, artists and businesses work side by side in the fully restored Studios with modern conveniences and technology.  Availability has recently opened up in this River North landmark to include large and small Studio spaces that would be a perfect fit for an artist or a business with a creative component.

The common hallway

Each private studio is equipped with telephone and high speed internet connections.  Shared common features include a coffee and copy center, well appointed conference room and mail room.   An office manager is on site to handle daily business details of the studios so you can pay attention to your activities.

Office Studio

Artist Studio

From the landscaping of the tranquil private courtyard – truly a one of a kind treasure in the midst of our bustling city – to the sun-filled hallways where tenants greet each other throughout the day, Tree Studios is an inspiring environment for any creative individual or business. 

Schedule your tour today!

Nestled between high rises, Tree Studios is an internationally recognized landmark building that dates back to 1894.   Now fully restored, the complex houses a collection of retail shops and galleries as well as a shared studio environment for the creative arts.  These unique work spaces are available for lease through The Suites Collection.  We welcome tenants who are artists or have artistically related businesses.  Current occupants include painters, writers, architects and graphic designers, among others.  

Judge Lambert Tree

The story of Tree Studios continues to enhance our city’s architectural prestige.  Earlier this year, the studios and surrounding buildings were celebrated through the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Awards for Excellence: The Americas competition. The Awards are widely known as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program honoring creativity, vision and best practices in land use.  Original owners Judge & Mrs. Lambert Tree, whose likenesses are sculptured at the entrance to the building, certainly made good use of their land by conceiving a building that continues to enhance the work of artists more than a century later. 

Anna Tree

During a recent presentation to the Burnham Committee, Alderman Edward Burke praised the restoration of Tree Studios by saying, “We are lucky to find ourselves in this picturesque location, a uniquely Chicago institution that once housed the nation’s oldest known artist studios. Like the city itself, Tree Studios faced adversity and finds itself still standing tall.  As it evolves and continues to be an important part of the artistic and cultural landscape of Chicago, it provides a shining example of the living, breathing soul of our city, which is defined by its past, present, and future.”  

  See more pictures of Tree Studios.

Find out about current studio availability.

Read the entire text of Alderman Burke’s speech.

This is the Court House Executive Office building more than 100 years ago.  Constructed just after the Chicago Fire of 1871, it was called “The Grand Palace Hotel”.  Located at the corner of Clark & Grand, 101 W. Grand, Maggiano’s Little Italy now occupies the ground and lower levels and our business center is right above it on the second and third floors. 

Picured above is the interior courtyard at Tree Studios, our center for creative arts at 4 E. Ohio.  Tree Studios was listed on the world monument fund’s 100 most endangered sites around the globe.  Commissioned in 1894 by art enthusiasts Judge Lambert Tree and his wife, Anna, the building was designed to entice the international artists from the World’s Columbian Exposition to remain in Chicago.  Follow the link below to the Chicago Landmark’s page on Tree Studios.

Theater District Business Center is located on the second floor of the Goodman Theater Building at 60 W. Randolph.  It’s right above Petterino’s and the Corner Bakery Cafe.  A great feature of this building is the light show at night.

The spectacular light show, The Goodman Theatre and the North Loop Theatre District and immediate adjacency to the courts at Daley Center, State of Illinois Building and City Hall make it a unique downtown office location. 

We love working in these historically significant buildings.  Chicago has such a rich architectural heritage; it’s great to be able to enjoy a piece of it every day.  Visit our Flickr site to see more photos of The Suites Collection offices, buildings and neighborhoods. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/suites/