The façade design for 4600 N Kenmore was inspired by its location in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. The fabric of this area comprises many ethnicities, cultures, and classes, and is connected by an historic entertainment infrastructure. 

The façade elements on 4600 N Kenmore are woven through a regular grid, containing economically-arranged repetitive fenestration. The unique field panels have a single fold across the panel, extending from a top corner to the opposite bottom corner. Moving left to right and up and down across the building, every other panel is folded the opposite way. The result is an undulation that catches the light differently throughout the course of a day. Although the façade is composed of one field color, the shade and shadows create many shifting sub-colors.

The clients were instantly drawn to the façade concept due to its simple yet high-level interest and texture. Additionally, all the residential windows are the same size, which makes ordering and installation easier. There is a consistent set of prefabricated panels that repeat around the building – again leading to ease of construction and cost savings.

The project is a Planned Development in the City of Chicago. This Zoning process requires aesthetic review and approval by the Chicago Plan Commission. Luckily, Commissioner Maurice Cox was very supportive of the project for its subtle, dynamic play of shade and shadow.

Once approved by the City of Chicago, Level and Method Construction worked diligently to explain the system to a qualified contractor while keeping production costs in check. The fabricator built a mock-up in his shop for review, and after receiving comments from Level and making a few adjustments, a full scale mock-up was built on the building.

Read more about 4600 N Kenmore here.