The Mason (180 N. Ada)

Constructed in 2019 with a nod to the past, The Mason is a 300,684 SF luxury apartment building located in the Fulton Market area in Chicago’s West Loop. Influenced by the rich history of local mason work and industrial warehouse-style, this 13-story, multi-family residential complex features contemporary designs and unique high-end amenities with easy access to shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Eriksson Engineering Associates, Ltd. (EEA) collaborated with Park Fowler Plus (formerly Brininstool + Lynch) to establish green roof areas, including deep soil planters on the amenity deck to provide stormwater and aesthetic benefits to The Mason. The total green roof square footage allowed for a reduction in stormwater detention requirements. The detention volume remaining was stored in a custom cast-in-place concrete vault located under the vehicular ramp to the residential parking garage off the alley south of the development. Utility connections were all made near the alley to keep the infrastructures away from the lobby and ground floor amenities.

Following the Chicago Department of Transportation and Planning Department standards and commitments placed on the project, the surrounding public rights-of-way were rebuilt and resurfaced. A new concrete alley was properly graded and drained, protecting the building and surrounding buildings from flooding as well as providing a smooth drive into the public and residential garage accesses. Sidewalks were rebuilt to allow for a continuous stretch of green space with parkway trees on the N. Ada St. frontage road. With the Green Line and Pink Line “L” tracks above Lake St. to the north of The Mason, the designs had to accommodate the columns and foundations of the railway structure while ensuring ADA compliance and suitable drainage slopes were met. This includes a curb bump out into Lake to protect parked cars and improve the safety of pedestrians crossing Lake Street.