Construction Begins on Oxxford Lofts in the West Loop
A long-awaited residential conversion is officially moving forward in the West Loop.
Construction has begun on Oxxford Lofts, a $42 million redevelopment at 1220 W. Van Buren Street, where a historic industrial building is being transformed into a modern apartment community just west of Racine Avenue.
The project is being led by Base 3 Development in partnership with The Missner Group, which is also serving as the general contractor.
A Historic Building Gets a New Life
Originally constructed in 1910, the building served as a manufacturing facility and later became closely associated with Oxxford Clothes, the Chicago-based menswear company known for handcrafted suits and tailoring.
Now, more than a century later, the structure is being repositioned as a residential loft development while preserving much of its historic identity.
Designed by Filoramo Talsma Architecture, the redevelopment includes a full restoration of the exterior façade, including masonry cleaning and historically inspired replacement windows designed to match the original architecture.
At the same time, the building will receive entirely new systems and upgraded sustainability features to meet modern residential standards.
Inside the Oxxford Lofts Development
Once complete, Oxxford Lofts will include 112 residential units across a mix of layouts:
Studios
One-bedroom apartments
One-bedroom plus den layouts
Two-bedroom units
To comply with Chicago’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO), 20% of the apartments will be designated as affordable housing.
The development leans into the loft-style living that continues to define many West Loop conversions, blending industrial architecture with updated interiors and amenities.
Amenities and Rooftop Space
The ground floor will feature a redesigned residential lobby along Van Buren Street, while preserving and incorporating the building’s historic lobby into the new entrance experience.
Additional ground-floor features include:
Amenity space
Mailroom
Bike storage with 112 spaces
22 indoor parking spaces
Loading and mechanical areas
At the top of the building, a new amenity penthouse and rooftop deck will offer residents views toward downtown and the South Side skyline.
Indoor amenities are expected to include:
Fitness center
Coworking space
Resident lounge areas
The coworking component reflects the growing demand for flexible work-from-home spaces in newer apartment developments across Chicago.
Why This Project Stands Out
Adaptive reuse projects have become a defining part of the West Loop’s evolution, especially as fewer large development sites remain available.
What makes Oxxford Lofts notable is how much of the original structure is being retained. Rather than replacing the building, the project focuses on preserving its industrial character while adapting it for modern residential use.
That approach continues to resonate in the West Loop, where historic warehouses and manufacturing buildings have increasingly become some of the neighborhood’s most desirable residential properties.
The location also places residents near the recently rebuilt Racine Blue Line Station, along with easy access to downtown, the Illinois Medical District and the broader Fulton Market corridor.
Looking Ahead
With permits already secured and construction now underway, leasing is expected to begin in Spring 2027.
And as the West Loop continues evolving from an industrial corridor into one of Chicago’s most in-demand residential neighborhoods, projects like Oxxford Lofts show how older buildings are continuing to find new purpose rather than being left behind.
More to Explore: Inside Oxxford Lofts: New Renderings Reveal What’s Coming to This West Loop Conversion
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